If 




ELIJAH KXAPP. 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES 



OF 



LYriAN 



NEW HANPSHIRC 



E. Br HOSKINS 



LISBON, N. H. 

Published by Charles P. Hibbard 

1903 



V 7 2 9 9 



^6^1 



•yA 



<'S^'' 






CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER I. . PAGE 

Exploring Party of 1754. First Survey. Mark 
of King George. Indian Tribes. Town Grant- 
ed. Extension of Charter. Division of tlie 
Town. Ponds. First Representative. Min- 
erals. Prosperous Times. .... 9 



CHAPTER II. 

Wendell Family. Lyman Charter 1761. Names 

of Grantees. Charter Renewed 1769. Grant 

to John Hurd. Survey of Township. Survey 

of Deer Islands. . . . . . .17 



CHAPTER III. 

Petition for Extension of the Charter. Rela- 
tive to Taxes. Town Invoice 1777. Petition 
for Abatement of Taxes. Report of a Com- 
mittee Relative to a Soldier. Relative to 
Soldiers Furnished for the War. Petition of 
Non-Residents. Petition Relative to a Ferry. 
Petition for Authority to Tax Non-Residents. 
Vote of the Town Relative to a Ferry. Peti- 
tion of Jacob Hurd. Petition for First Town 
Meeting. First Town Meeting January 5, 
1786. Adjourned Meeting March 31, 1786. 



PAGE 

Sale of Town Pauper. Special Town Meeting 
September 2, 1864. Charter for Library. . 30 

CHAPTER IV. 

Parker. Moulton. Clough. Cowen. Cal- 
houn. Martin. Barber. Hodges. Burt. 
Dodge. Stevens. Gordon. Knapp. Miner. 
Eastman. McMillen. Merrill. Porter. San- 
born. Wright. Drake. Bailey. Little. Un- 
derwood. Barkley. . . . . .51 

CHAPTER V. 

Walker. Corey. Thornton. Moore. Sher- 
man. Gordon. Ash. Eastman. Gould. Cass. 
Gibson. Young. Mason. Hoskins. Hurd. 
Patridge. Kent. Smith. Garland. Ester- 
brook. Lynde. Bass. Presby. Bartlett. 
Hastings. Gilman. Foster. Dow. Dj^ke. 
Locke. Titus. Parker. Ford, Chase. Stev- 
ens. Bedell. Swan. Wheelock. Martin. 
Williams. Stickney. McAlpen. . . .85 

CHAPTER VI. 

Old Cellars. Cold Season of 1816. Incidents 
in the early History of Lyman. Cider Mill. 
Drinking Habits. Physicians. Churches and 
Ministers. Domestic and Social Life. Mor- 
mons. Stores. Mills. Starch Business. 
Blacksmiths. Tannery. Town House. Li- 
braries. Schools. Potash. Sugar Making. 
Running the Connecticut River. Teaming. 
Witchcraft. Military Matters. . . .115 



PREFACE. 

Within a short time several of the oldest native 
inhabitants of Lyman have died, which has brought 
to notice the fact that there are very few people liv- 
ing who know any thing about the early history of the 
town. Several people, interested in the town, have felt 
that a record should be made of the historical events, 
before the material is all lost, and have suggested that 
I undertake the work. At first I declined, but have 
finally consented to do so, only because no other 
person could be found who was willing to take it up. 

The work is necessarily imperfect in some respects, 
as it is not possible for a record of this kind to be 
made free from error. I have availed myself of all 
sources of knowledge within reach; the town records, 
town and State Papers, History of Haverhill by Rev. 
Mr. Bittinger, History of Cohos, Child's Grafton 
County Gazetteer, History of Bath, and whatever 
could throw light upon the history of the town, but I 
have not encumbered the pages with citations of 
authorities. 

No pretence is made to literary merit. It is de- 
signed to be simply a record of facts wihout embel- 
lishment or exaggeration. If I have been able to 



PREFACE. 

make myself understood, I shall feel that I have done 
something towards rescuing the memory of our fore- 
fathers from oblivion, which is my design. 

I have been greatly aided in this work by Mr. and 
Mrs. M. M. Stevens, Mrs. John Martin, Mrs. Betsy 
Young, Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Hoskins, Mr. J, D. 
Hoskins, Mr. John P. Miner, and others for favoi-s. 
If these sketches are brief and contain little of deep 
interest, it is because Ljnnan is a small farming town, 
and its history has been quiet and peaceful, with no 
events of a remarkable character. The work has 
been undertaken none too soon, as much valuable in- 
formation is already lost. It relates entirely to East 
Lyman, as no data have been collected relative to 
West Lyman, or Monroe. 

E. B. H. 

Lisbon, X. II., 1902. 



HISTORY OF LYMAN. 



CHAPTER I. 

GRANT AND SETTLEMENT OF TOWNSHIP. 

EXPLORIXG PARTV OF 1754— FIRST SURVEy— MARK OF KING GEORGE- 
INDIAN TRIBES— TOWN GRANTED— EXTENSION OF CHARTER— DIVISION 
OF THE TOWN— PONDS— FIRST REPRESENTATIVE— MINERALS— PROSPER- 
OUS TIMES. 

In the spring of 1754, the General Court of New 
Hampshu-e sent Col. Lovewell, Maj. Talford and 
Capt. Page at the head of a company with John 
Stark, afterward General Stark, for their guide, to ex- 
plore the upper part of New Hampshire. They left 
Rumford, now Concord, March 10, 1754, and went as 
far as the Connecticut river at Piermont. They spent 
one night in the valley and returned to Concord, 
probably feariug an attack from an Indian force su- 
perior to their own. 13ut the government was not dis- 
couraged by this failure, and in the same season Capt. 
Peter Powers of HoUis, N. H., Lieut. James Stevens 
and Ensign Ei)hram Hale, both of Townsend Mass., 
were appointed to march at the head of a company to 
explore this section. This company started from 
Concord, Saturday, June 15, 1754. The expedition 



lU HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

passed through Lyman, Saturday, June 29, 1754, and 
was probably composed of the first white men who 
were ever in the town. They camped in the southern 
part of Dalton, then traveled as far north as Israel's 
river in Lancaster, and returned. 

The town of Lyman was first surveyed in 1760, by 
marking its corners, and designating it as No. 11, on 
the Connecticut river, Bath being No. 10, Haverhill 
No. 9, and Charlestown No. 4. This siu'vey w^as 
made under King George III., and the town was di- 
vided into what was called "rights'' of about three 
hundred and twenty-eight acres. By following "the 
line of right," running east from the Parker Hill road 
between the farms once owned by Isaac D. Miner and 
Harrison Porter, nearly to the top of the hill, one can 
find cut into the smooth surface of the solid ledge the 
"Broad Arrow," the King's mark, showing the corner 
of the four "rights." A stone is also buried at the other 
corner in the middle of the I*arker Hill road, with the 
"Broad Arrow" cut on it. Other "rights' " corners 
are known, but the one on the ledge is certain to be 
correct. 

Lyman was included within the limits of the Cohos* 
country. The Indians were pi-obably never veiy nu- 

*Coo was the Intlian for pine tree, and Cooash, the phxral of Coo, 
meant puw trees ; hence the Indian word Cooaah-uuke as applied to 
the county on the Connecticut, at Haverhill and Lancaster, meaninj; 
literally the ;««e tree's place, and hence our word Coos, Cohos, and 
Cohosnck. The "Great, or LoAver Coos," was at Haverhill, and the 
"tapper Cofis," at Lancaster. 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 11 

merous in this vicinity. The nearest tribe was a division 
of the Nipraucks that cultivated the Coos intervales on 
the Connecticut, and was called "the swift deer- 
hunting Coosucks." Branches of the St. Francis tribe 
of Indians frequently occupied this territory, and 
there are reasons for believing that, for a time at least, 
they had a permanent settlement in the Cohos coun- 
try. 

Bath was granted, in 1761, to Andrew Gardner 
and others, hence came the name of Gardner's moun- 
tain which extendi up through Lyman. Lyman was 
granted November 10, the same year, to Daniel 
Lyman and sixty-three othei'S, its name being derived 
from the fact that eleven of the grantees bore the 
name of Lyman. The grantees failed to comply with 
the requirements of the charter, and thus forfeited 
their grant, but an extension of time w^as gi'anted 
them July 20, 1709, in answer to a petition from 
Abraham Thompson of Connecticut, agent of the 
original grantees. As originally granted the town 
was much larger than it now is, but extending 
north and south through its center was Gardner's 
mountain. This rendered travel from either the 
eastern or vrestern parts to the opposite side of the 
town exceedingly difficult and troublesome, and thus 
inconvenient for all to attend town meetings, etc. 
For this reason, by an act of the legislature July 13, 
1854, all that portion of the town lying west of 



12 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

Gardner's mountain was incorporated into a separate 
township, by the name of Monroe. There was a 
strong opposition to this division in the eastern part 
of the town. Previous to this division it was known 
as Lyman and East Lyman. The town was repre- 
sented in tlie state legislature, in 1854, bj^ Pliny 
Bartlett who resided in the eastern })art, and was op- 
posed to the division. He was aided in liis efforts 
before the legislature by Dr. Samuel Hoskins. The 
Monroe side was represented by Jedediah Buffum, 
who succeeded in having the town divided, and in 
having Monroe set off. The eastern part took the 
name of Lyman, and also retained possession of the 
town books and records. 

Lyman is situated in lat. 44° 15' N., and long. 71° 
55' W., bounded north by Littleton, east by Lisbon, 
south by Bath, and west by Monroe. The soil is 
generally good, producing excellent crops of grains 
and grasses, and furnishes excellent grazing. During 
the settlement, mistakes were made in locations, and 
several farms were cleared which were not suitable 
for cultivation; but through the center of the town, 
and over Parker Hill, many highly cultivated farms 
are found, and excellent crops are raised. The geo- 
graphical features of the town are varied and j)ictu- 
resque, and several small lakes or ponds dim])le the 
surface of the town. Beginning with Patridge we 
find a chain of ponds leading to the Animonoosuc 



IITSTORirAL SKETCHES. 13 

river. In their order they are: Long pond, Round 
pond, Dodge pond, Cowen, and Young's ponds. The 
upper Mountain pondf is situated on the top of 
Gardner's Mountain, having no inlet, but an outlet of 
considerable size runs down to the base of the mount- 
ain into the lower Mountain pond. This pond and 
Young's were at one time well filled with trout, but 
these were killed by the introduction of pickerel. In 
early times the citizens contributed a sum of money, 
and hired Johnnie White, an old peddler from New- 
bury, Vermont, to bring up some pickerel which were 
placed in Young's pi>nd, which soon found their way 
into the other ponds. These were the first fish of 
their kind in town. 

The beauty and grandeur of the scenery from 
many localities in town is unsurpassed. Standing on 
the heights of Clough Hill, a panorama of mountain 
scenery is presented, extending from the peaks in 
Milan to the Moosilauke in Warren. Most of the 
business of the town has been done on Parker Hill, 
which at one time w^as quite a trade center. Several 
people, who have lived in both Lyman and Littleton, 
have told the writer that they could remember when 
there were more wealthy men, and more business in 
Lyman, than in the town of Littleton. 

But few settlements were made in the town previ- 
ous to the Revolution, there being but ten ratable 

t Now situated in Monroe. 



14 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

polls here in 1777. The Moulton family came about 
1760, and the Miners and Parkers about the same 
time. Up to 1786 the business of the town was done 
by the proprietors. On March 16, 1785, "the free- 
holders and other inhabitants of the towns of Bath, 
Lyman, Landaff, Concord alias Gunthwaite (now 
Lisbon), Littleton, Dalton, Lancaster, Dartmouth, 
Northumberland, Stratford, Cockburn, and Colburn, 
qualified to vote for a representative," met at the 
house of Mr. WilliauL Eastman, in Bath, and chose 
"Maj. John Young as a member of the General Court 
to be convened at Portsmouth on the first Wednesday 
of June" following. The town was organized, and 
the first town-meeting was held January 5, 1786. At 
this time the town had become quite well settled. 
The Knapps, Cloughs, Hodges and many, others had 
become located, and tlie community was increasing. 
The population, in 1790, was two hundred and two; 
in 1860, six hundred and nineteen; in 1880, six hundred 
and fifty-five; in 1890, five hundred and forty-three. 

The town is well sui)plied witli roads. Three run 
lengthwise of the town, and cross-roads connect 
these at convenient points. The locality on the road, 
at the base of Mount Gardner, is knov.n as "under the 
mountain." The main road leading from Littleton to 
Bath, through the center of the town, until quite 
recently, had as much travel as most of the river 
roads in the countv. 



IIISTORirAL SKETCHES. 15 

Ores and minerals are found in various parts of the 
town. Gold, iron, lead, and copper have all been found 
here. The "Dodge Gold Mine" is located on the old 
Hall farm, and has been worked quite extensively 
for several years. Over sixty thousand dollars of 
gold coin, now in circulation, was taken from this 
mine. Quite extensive mining operations were car- 
ried on at the Paddock Mine, also on the Capt. Bailey 
farm, and several other localities in the town. It has 
been estimated that over two million dollars have 
been exi)ended in Lyman, in prospecting, opening- 
mines, and building crushers and stamping mills. 
The "Tunnel Mine," situated near the Dodge Mine, 
is now being worked, and shows a larger percentage 
of gold than some of the famous gold mines in South 
Africa. Many farms in town were bonded by mining 
parties, and quite a number have passed under the 
control of mining companies. These farms have been 
allowed to run down, the buildings have fallen into 
decay and ruin, and have become a disgrace and an 
injury to the town. 

During the forties and fifties, a little hamlet grew 
up at the north end of the town, and became known 
as Tinkerville. The school was there; John Martin 
and Nelson Noyes made boots and shoes; Amos Smith 
carried on a tailoring business; the Union Store was 
running; a saw-mill on the brook in the rear of the 
store was in operation; and Julius Smith, during these 



16 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

times, had a gTist-mill, and was doing all kinds of 
wood-work, and a general black-smithing business. 

At this time Lyman was prosperous, and the peo- 
ple satisfied and contented. All the farms through 
the town were occupied. The farmers had good 
buildings, good teams, and large stocks of cattle and 
sheep. During this era of prosperity, Barron Moulton, 
who had become quite wealthy, sold out and left 
town. This seemed to cause a feeling of unrest and 
discontent. Several others of the more prosperous 
class follow^ed, and this emigration has continued, till 
nearly all the old families have moved out of town. 
Other influences, which caused injury to Lyman, Avere 
the Bothwell Oil business, the L^nion Store failure, and 
the Rail-roads. The advent of the rail-roads changed 
the business centers, and many hill towns which before 
Avere prosperous, are now deserted, and almost for- 
gotten. Lyman is no exception to the general rule, 
and the ruthless hand of neglect has left its imprint 
on this once prosperous community. 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 17 



CHAPTER II. 

CHARTER PERIOD. 
1761. 

WEN'DELL FAMILY— LYIIAN Ca.lRTER 17G1— XAMES OF CJIIAXTEES— 
CHARTER RENEWED 1769— GRANT TO JOHN HURD— SURVEY OF TOWN- 
SHIP—SURVEY OF DEER ISLANDS. 

A large portion of the land in Lyman held by the 
gi*antees, soon by pnrchase or otherwise, came into 
the possession of the Wendell famih^ of Portsmouth. 
The last of their holdings were disposed of about 
1880. As long as land was held in Lyman by mem- 
bers of this family, different members came at various 
times to dispose of property. Abram AVendell came 
once a year for a long time. He used to stop with 
Mr. Kent, as long as Mr. Kent lived, and after his 
death, made his home with Moses Walker when in 
town. He sold the land at three dollars per acre, and 
the purchaser made his owm selection. The holdings 
gradually gi-ew less and were finally disposed of en- 
tirely. 

The original charter of the town w^as formerly kept 
in the office of the town clerk, but Dr. Samuel Hoskins 
claimed it was borrowed to use at court in some law 
suit, and probably lost as it was never returned. 



18 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

LYMAN CHARTER 1761. 
Province of New-Hampshire. 
Lyman George the Third, 



P S 



By the Grace of God, of Great-Britain, 
f^ France and Ireland, King, Defender of 
r the faith, &g. 
^ ^^.^--r^ ^^ ^^^ persons to whom these Presents 

shall come, Greeting. 

Know ye, that We of Om* special Grace, certainKnowl- 
edge, and meer Motion, for the due encouragement 
of settling a New Plantation within our said Province, 
by and with the Advice of our Trusty and well- 
beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq; Our Govenor and 
Commander in Chief of Our said Province of New- 
Hampshire in New-England, and of our Council of 
the said Province; Have upon the Conditions and 
Reservations herin after made, given and granted, 
and by these Presents, for us, our Heirs, and Success- 
ors, do give and grant in equal Shares, unto Oui* 
loving subjects. Inhabitants of Our said Province of 
New-Hampshire, and our other Governments, and to 
their Heirs and Assigns for ever, whose Names are 
entered on this Grant, to be divided to and amongst 
them into Seventy equal Shares, all that Tract or 
Parcel of Land situate, lying and being within our 
said Province of New-Hampshire, containing by 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 19 

Admeasurement Twenty Three Thousand & Forty 
Acres, which Tract is to contain Six Miles square, 
and no more; out of which an Allowance is to be 
made for High Ways and unimprovable Lands by 
Rocks, Ponds, Mountains and Rivers, One Thousand 
and Forty Acres free, according to a plan and Survey 
thereof,made by our said Governer's Order, and returned 
into the Secretary's Office, and hereunto annexed, butted 
and bounded as follows. Viz. Begining at a Tree 
Marked that Stands on the Bank of the Easterly Side 
of the Connecticut River which is the North Westerly 
Corner of Bath & is Six Miles on a Staight Line from 
Am'onusock Rivers Mouth & from thence Runing by 
Bath to the North Easterly Corner thereof, then 
Begining again at the first Bounds & Runing up 
Connecticut River, so far as to make it Six Miles 
upon a Streight Line, thence Six Miles on such a 
Point as will be Six Miles from the North Easterly 
Corner of Bath aforesaid & thence to said North 
Easterly Corner of Bath afores^ And that the same 
be, and hereby is Incorporated into a Township by 
the Name of Lyman And the Inhabitants that do or 
shall hereafter inhabit the said Township, are hereby 
declared to be Enfranchized with and Intitled to all 
and every the Priviledges and Immunities that other 
Towns within Our Province by Law Exercise and 
Enjoy: And further, that the said Town as soon as 
there shall be Fifty Families resident and settled 



20 HISTORICAL SKETr'HES. 

tliereoii, shall have tlie Liberty of holding Town 
Fairs, one of which shall be held on the 

and the other on the 
annually, which Fairs are not to continue longer than 
the respective following 

the said and that as soon as the said 

Town shall consist of Fifty Families, a Market may 
be opened and kept one or more Days in each Week, 
as may be thought most advantagious to the Inhabit- 
ants. Also, that the first Meeting for the Choice of 
Town Officers, agreeable to the Laws of our said 
Province, shall be held on the First Monday in 
December next which said Meeting shall be Notified 
by Gideon L^^man Esq who is hereby also appointed 
the Moderator of the said first Meeting, which he is 
to Notify and Govern - agreeable to the Laws and 
Customs of Our said Province; and that the annual 
Meeting for ever hereafter for the Choice of such 
Officers for the said Town, shall be on the Second 
Tuesday of March annually, To Have and to Hold 
the said Tract of Land as above expressed, together 
with all Privileges and Appurtenances, to them and 
their respective Heirs and Assigns forever, upon the 
following conditions, viz- 

I. That every Grantee, his Heirs or Assigns shall 
plant and cultivate five Acres of Land within the 
Term of five Years for every fifty Acres contained in 
his or their Share or Proportion of Land in said 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 21 

Township, and continue to improve and settle the 
same by additional Cultivations, on Penalty of the 
forfeiture of his Grant or Share in the said Town- 
ship, and of its reverting to Us, our Heirs and Suc- 
cessors, to be by Us or Them Re-granted to such of 
Our Subjects as shall effectually settle and cultivate 
the same. 

II. That all white and other Pine Trees within the 
sad Township, fit for Masting Our Royal Navy, be 
carefully preserved for that Use, and none to be cut 
or felled without Our special Licence for so doing 
first had and obtained, upon the Penalty of the 
Forfeiture of the Right of such Grantee, his Heirs 
and Assigns, to Us, our Heirs and Successors, as well 
as being subject to the Penalty of any Act or Acts of 
Parliament that now are, or hereafter shall be enacted 

III. That before any Division of the Land be made 
to and among the Grantees, a Tract of Land as near 
the Centre of the said Township as the Land will 
admit of, shall be reserved and marked out for Town 
Lots, one of which shall be allotted to each Grantee 
of the Contents of one Acre. 

ly. Yielding and paying therefor to Us, our 
Heirs and Successors for the Space of ten Years, to be 
computed from the Date hereof, the Rent of one Ear 
of Indian Corn only, on the twenty-fifth Day of De- 
cember annually, if lawfully demanded, the first Pay- 
ment to be made on the twenty-fifth dav of December 
1761. 



22 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

V. Every Proprietor, Settler or Inhabitant, shall 
yield and pay unto Us, our Heirs and Successors 
yearly, and every Year forever, from and after the 
Expiration of ten years from the abovesaid twenty- 
fifth Day of December, namely, on the twenty-fifth 
Day of December, which will be in the Year of Our 
Lord 1771 One shilling Proclamation Money for every 
Hundred Acres he so owns, settles or possesses, and 
so in Proportion for a greater or lesser Tract of the 
said Land ; which Money shall be paid by the respec- 
tive Persons abovesaid, their Heirs or Assigns, in our 
Council Chamber in Portsmouth or to such Ofiicer or 
Ofticers as shall be appointed to receive the same ; and 
this to be in Lieu of all other Rents and Services 
whatsoever. 

In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of 
our said Province to be hereunto afiixed. Witness 
Benning Wentworth, Esq ; Our Governor and Com- 
mander in Chief of Our said Province, the Tenth Day 
of November In the Year of our Lord Christ, One 
Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty One And in the 
Second Year of Our Reign B Wentworth 

By His Excellency's Command, 

With Advice of Council, 

Theodors Atkinson Se^^ 

Province of New Hamps^ Nov'^ 10 1761 — Recorded 
According to the Original Charter under the Prov® 
Seal. Theodore Atkinson Sec'^y 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 



23 



The Names of the Grantees 
Daniel Lyman 
Phineas Bradley 
Sam^ Bishop Jun"^ 
David Austin 
Thomas Willmot 
Sam^ Munson 
John Mix 
Benj'* Bradley 
Moses Ford 
Amos Perkins 
John Austin 
Silvanus Bishop 
Sam^ Austin 
Steph" Johnson 
Ezra Dodge 
Erastus Bradley 
Tim« Bradley 
Abra"^ Augur 
Timoy Tallmage 
Me dad Lyman 
Ruben Bradley 
Tim° Ruggles 
Sam^ Hannum 
Gideon Lyman Esq 
Phineas Lyman Esq 
Joseph Miller 
Phineas Lyman Esq 



of Lyman (viz) 
Jacob Heaton 
Dan^ Basset 
Ezekiel Hotchkins 
Zadoc Allin 
Isaac Thompson 
John Belcher 
James Bradley 
Joseph Thompson 
Ehakim Hall 
Gad Smith 
Isaac Bishop 
Sam^ Willmot 
Hezekiah Tuttle 
Punderson Austin 
And^^' Bradley 
Tim« Peck 
Amos Shearman 
Israel Bishop 
Joseph Belcher 
Amos Morris 
James Blackby 
John Johnson 3^ 
Ezra Clark 
EUjah Lyman Esq 
John Beecher 
Gideon Lyman Esq 
Edw'^ Cutt 



24 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

Gideon Lyman Jun^' Elisha Lyman 

Naomi Lyman Elijah Southwell 

Joseph Root Eben"^ Philps 

Zina Bradley Rich^^ Wibird Esq 

Joseph Xewmarcli Esq & Elias Ljanan 

His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq a Tract 
of Land to Contain Five Hundred Acres as marked 
B — W in the Plan which is to be Accounted two of 
the within Shares, One whole Share for the Incor- 
porated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 
Foreign Parts, One Share for a Glebe for the Church 
of England as by Law Established, One Share for the 
first Settled Minister of the Gospel, & One Share for 
the Benefit of a School in said Town 

Province of New Hamps'^ Nov^ 10, 1761 Recorded 
from the Back of the Original Charter of Lyman 
under the Prov® Seal 

Attested Theodore Atkinson Se^'y 



Lyman Chaeter Rexeaved, 1769. 

-r, . „ ^_ >| Georo^e the Third by the Grace 

Province of New . ^ -, . ^ . t^ -1 • t^ 
„ 1 • , ( 01 God or Great Britain b ranee 

,-r ' tI • X I and Ireland Kingj Defender of 

(Lyman Extension) i , ^ . , -, . , 
J the h aith, and so forth. 

Whereas we of our special Grace and mere Motion for 
the due Encouragement of settling a New Plantation 
within our Province of New Hampshire by our Letters 



HlSTOIilCAL SKETCHES. 25 

Patent or Charter under the Seal of our said Province 
dated the Tenth day of November One thousand 
Seven hundred & Sixty one in the Second Year of 
our Reign, a Tract of Land equal to Six Miles Square, 
bounded as therein expressed, (and since Surveyed, 
and measured, marked and ascertained by our Order to 
Isaac Rindge Esquire our Surveyor General of Lands 
for said Province, granted to a number of our Loyal 
Subjects whose Names are enter'd on the same to 
Hold to them their Heirs and Assigns on the Condi- 
tions therein declared, and to be a Town Corporate 
by the Name of Lyman as by reference to the said 
Charter may more fully appear. And whereas the 
said grantees have represented unto us that by reason 
of the great Inconveniencies which occur in the settle- 
ment of New Townships so remotely situated from 
any other settlements that can afford any Assistance 
hath render'd it Impracticable for the wliole Number 
of Grantees to perform that part of the Conditions 
that relates to the cultivation of such a proportion of 
the said Grant, that there are a considerable number 
of Families settled on the premises, which affords 
them hopes of a final Settlement, without delay. And 
humbly supplicating us not to take advantage of the 
breach of said Condition, but to lengthen out and 
grant them some further time for the performance 
thereof. Now Know Ye, that we being willing to pro- 
mote the end proposed Have (of our further Grace and 



26 HISTOKICAL SKETCHES. 

favor suspended our Claim to the forfeiture which said 
Grantees may have Incurred) and by these Presents 
do grant unto the said Grantees their Heirs and As- 
signs the further Term of Five Years from this date 
for performing and fulfilKng the Conditions Matters 
and Things by them to be done as aforesaid, Except 
the Quit Rents which are to remain due and Payable 
as expressed & reserved in the Original Grant or 
Charter. 

In Testimony whereof We have caused the Seal of 
our Said Province to be hereunto Affixed Witness 
John Wentworth Esquire our Governor & Commander in 
Chief the Twentieth day of July in the Ninth Year 
of our Reign, Annoque Domini 1709. 

J' Wentworth. 
By his Excelpy'^ Command | 

with advice of Council \ 

Geo: King Dep^' Sec^^ 

Province of New Hampshire August L^"' 1772. 

Recorded according to the Original Charter under 
the Province Seal. 

Attest* Theodore Atkinson, Sec''^ 



Grant to John Hurd, 1709. 
Province of new | George the Third by the Grace of 
Hampshire j God of Great Britain France & 
Ireland King Defender of the 
faith &c\ 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 27 



(Jii^ Hurd's Grant of 
the Deer Islands) 



To all whom these Presents 
shall come Greeting. 
Know Ye tliat we of our special Grace certain knowl- 
edge and mere motion for the due encouragement of 
setling a new Plantation within our said Province by 
and with the advice of our Trusty and well beloved 
Jn^ Wentworth Esq* our Governor &, Commander in 
Chief of our said Province of New Hampshire in New 
England and of our Council for the said Province 
Have upon the Conditions and Reservations herein 
after made, given and Granted and by these Presents 
for us our heu-s and Successors Do give and Grant 
unto our Loving Subject yo/?« Hurd oi Portsm*^ in our 
said Province of New Ham])shu'e Esq"^ and to his 
Heirs and Assigns for ever ; and those Islands (being 
5 in number) commonly called and known by the 
name of Deer Islands^ situate and being between the 
Towns of Lyman and Barnet in Connecticut River ; 
the Contents and Numbers of the said Islands are 

respectively as follows Viz^ as by a plan and 

Survey thereof made & returned by order of our said 
Governor into the secretary's office and hereunto an- 
nexed may more fully appear — To Have and to Hold 
the said Deer Islands and every of them together 
with all Priviledges and Appurtenances unto him the 
said J n^ Hurd his heirs and Assigns for ever; upon 
the following Conditions Viz* First That the said John 
his heirs or Assigns shall Plant and Cultivate Ten 



28 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES. 

Acres of the said Land Avitbin the Term of Ten Years 
and continue to improve and settle the same by addi- 
tional Cultivation on penalty of the forfeiture of his 
Grant in the said Islands and of their reverting to us 
our heirs & successors to be by us or them re gran ted 
to such of our subjects as shall effectually Settle and 
Cultivate the same Secondly that all white Pine tr^es 
throughout the said Islands fit for Masting our Royal 
Navy be carefully preserved for that Use and none to 
be cut or fell'd without our Special License fiist had 
and obtained for so doing, upon the Penalty of the 
forfeiture of this Grant as well as being subject to the 
Present and future Penalties by Act of Parliament- — 
Thirdly Yielding and paying therefor unto us our heirs 
and Successors for the space of Ten Years from this 
Date One Ear of Indian Corn only on the '25^'^ of 
December annually if lawfully demanded — (4"^) That 
the said John his heirs or Assigns shall yield & Pay 
unto us our heirs and successors yeaih^ and every year 
from and after the expiration of the said Ten years in 
our Council Chamber in Poi'tsm" or to such officer as 
shall be appointed to receive the same — Two shillings 
and Sixpence Lawful money for ever: in lieu of all 
other Rents and services.^ — 

In Testimony Avhereof we have caused the seal of our 
said Province to be hereto affixed Witness John Went- 
worih ICscy our said Governor the sixteenth day of 
January in the year of our Lord Christ 1769 and in 
the ninth ^ear of our Reign — J' Wentwokth 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 29 

By his Excellency's Command 
with advice of Council 

T: Atkinson Jmi: SecP' 
Recorded according to the Original Patent under 
the Province Seal the 2H^^ Jan^y 1769 

Theodore Atkinson Sec'^ 



Original Survey of the Township. 
Province of New Hampshire. 

These Certify that this Plan of Lyman, containing 
Twenty five Thousand four hundred and Thuty three 
Acres of Land is a true Copy of an Original Plan or 
Survey of said Township as taken & retm-ned to me 
by M^ Benjamin Whiting Dep^ Survey^ 

July 6"^ 1769 Attest. Is. Rindge S^ Gen^ 



Original Survey of Deer Islands. 
Province of Xew Hampshu-e Portsm^^ 28*^' Jan^y 1769. 
These Certify that this plan of the Deer Islands in 
Connecticut River laying between the Towns of luj- 
man and Barnet is a true Copy of an Original Plan 
or Survey as taken & returned to me by Elijah King 
D^ Surveyor. 

Attest^ Is: Rindge S^ Gen^ 

Province of New Hampshire 28"^ Jan^^ 1769. 

Recorded accord^ to the Plan, annex'd to the Orig- 
inal Grant under the Province Seal. — 



30 HISTORK'AL SKETCHES. 



OHAPTEll III. 
State and Town Papeijs. 

PETITION FOR EXTENSION OF THE CHARTEK— RELATIVE TO TAXES- 
TOWN INVOICE 1777— PETITION FOR ABATEMENT OF TAXES— REPORT OK 
A COMMITTEE RELATIVE TO A SOLDIER— RELATIVE TO SOLDIERS FUli- 
NISUED FOR THE WAR— PETITION OF NON-RESIDENTS- PETITION RELA- 
TIVE TO A FERRV— PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO TAX NON-RESIDENTS 
— \OTE OF TOWN RELATIVE TO A FERRY— PETITION OF JACOB HUKD 
—PETITION FOR FIRST TOWN MEETING— FIRST TOWN MEETING JAN. 5, 
178G— ADJOURNED MEETING MARCH 31, 1786 -SALE OF TOWN PAUPER 
—SPECIAL TOWN MEETING SEPTEMBER 2, 1804— CHARTER FOR LIIIRARV. 

The following papers were obtained at the State 
Library, from the voluraes of State Papers and Town 
records. The petitions and other })a})ers for various 
purposes are valuable, as furnishing much liistorical 
matter not elsewhere in existence, and the names of 
the inhabitants at various dates. They have been in 
all cases copied as originally written, scrupulously 
preserving the orthography, punctuation, capitaliza- 
tion, etc. 



Petition for an Extension of the Chaktek. 

To His Excellency John Wentworth Bsqr Captain Gen- 
eral Governor & Commander in Chief in & over his 
Majesty s Province of New Hampshire in Council. — 

The petition of Abraham Thompson of Ncm' Haven 
in the Colony of Connecticut, Agent & Trustee for 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 81 

the original grantees of the Township of Lyman in the 
said Province of New Hampshire, Humbly sheweth — 
that your petitioner & his constituents obtained of the 
Late Governor of said Province, a Charter for the 
said Township of Lyman, and have proceeded to sur- 
vey & allot the same and have also made some Settle- 
ments thereon but your petitioners have been greatly 
impeded in their progress by the unexpected Division- 
al Line, making Connecticut River the Boundary be- 
tween the province of New York & New Hampshire, 
as your petitioners were Proprietors in several Towns 
on the western Side of said river on which they had 
made gTeat Improvements, that this sudden & un- 
expected Determination threw them into great con- 
sternation, and they have been greatly harrassed by 
the Governor of New York, w^hich Avith other expen- 
sive Discouragements, they have been unable to bring 
forward the Settlement of said Township so soon as 
they expected, but are determined to make a pro- 
gi-ess therein on the Ensueing Spring — Wherefore 
your Petitioner in behalf of himself & his Constituents 
the other Grantees of said Township of Lyman, 
humbly pray that Your Excellenc}^ & the Hon^'^® 
Council would be pleased to renew their Charter for 
said Township of L^nnan or lengthen out the Time 
for settling the same, assuring y"^ ExcelP & Honours, 
that we shall not fail to com.ply with the same, and 
fruther we pra}' to be relieved on the Premises as y' 



82 IIISTOKR'AL SKETCHES. 

Excellency & Hon^^ in your Wisdom, shall think may 
most conduce to Answer the Prayer of their Petition, 
and Your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever 
pray— 

Abraham thompsox 

Agent for the Grantees of Lyman 
(The foregoing petition was granted July 20, 1769.) 



Relative to Taxes. 
The Honourable Representatives and Counsel of the 
State of New Hampshire, — We the Inhabitants of the 
Town of Lymon County of Grafton and State afore 
said, Petioneth an Abatement in Our Taxes from the 
year 1776 to this present time Humbly shewing Rea- 
sons why, said Town in 1776 were Eight in Number 
and Tax^ £0: — 12. 6. in 1777 the like Number were 
Tax** <£60 — 15 — 10. the Same Number in 1778 were 
Tax<i £12] — 11 — 8. in the above mention*^ 1776, 
1777, and 1778 Our Situation was such and the Num- 
ber of Inhabitants so small we Could not call a Tom n 
Meeting, at this time we were Eighteen in Numbei* 
and Tax^ £379—10—0. Ten out of said Eighteen 
for three years past have paid Taxes in Other Towns 
for which they can produce Lawful Certificates, Con- 
siquently the Eight Settlers first Mention*^ \\ ill have 
all the tax to pay we have sent a True Invoise as Our 
Polls and Ratable Estate Stood in Ajn-il 1777, by said 
Invoice your Honours will find said Taxes too high as 



IIISTORirAL SKKT(^"HES. 83 

we were Scarcely able to Maintain Ourselves And 
Roads through said Lymon, if your lionours see cause 
or think it prudence to abate said Tax according to 
said invoise we shall Cherefully pay said Tax if not 
said Setlers must fall a Sacrifice to said State — and as 
said Town of Lymon is not Incorporated or said In- 
corporation lost or Misplac^ we your Humble Petition- 
ers Desire you would Appoint Cap* Nathan Hodges 
of said Lymon to call a Town Meeting to Chuse Town 
Officers, that we may be Enabled to assess s^ Taxes 
and Lawfully gather the Delinquent Tax of s^ Town 
as your Petitioners are bound in Duty and Ever pray — 
Solomon Parker Thomas mcConnell 

Jonathan knap Evan mcBean 

Abial knap Lemuel Parker 

Jonathan moulton Job moulton 

Asa fuller obadiah Eastman 

David Hodges oliver hand 

Solomon Parker Jr 



ToAvx Invoice 1' 



An Invoice of the Town of Lyman April 1777 
Number of Poles 10 number oxen — 4 
.num^' Cows — 5 
47 acres plow ground and Mowing 47 

Nathan Hodges ) Inhabitants 



Thomas mcConell j of Lyman 



34 HISTORICAL sketciip:s. 

Petition for Abatement of Taxes, 1779. 

To the Honorable the Representatives and Council of the 
State of New Hampshire — 

The petition of the Selectmen of the Townsliip of 
Lyman in the County of Grafton and State afore- 
said — Sheweth That Your 

Petitioners being Inhabitants of said Town— In the 
Year 1776 we were only Eight in Number and Taxed 
12 — 6 In the Year 1777 being the like Number and 
Taxed £60, 15s lOd, also the like Number in the 
Year 1778 and Taxed £121, lis, 8d— In those Years 
we were not a sufficient Numl)er to Incorporate or 
call Town Meetings so we could not possibly have 
Constables Collectors &"" but at this present Time are 
Eighteen in Number and Taxed £379, 10s Od for the 
payment of which all our Live and Trading Stock 
will not be sufficient to satisfy the same We own we 
have been deUnquent in the Pa^'ment of the above 
Taxes not from any Disrespect to the State but from 
the Poverty which those few Inhabitants endured at 
that Time we are and will be always willing to Assist 
the State in every thing, great Part of Us having 
been in the Service, Ten out of the Eighteen for 
these Three Years past have paid Taxes for their Poll 
for which they can produce Certificates from other 
Towns and States, The Consequence will be the Poor 
People of this Town must of Course fall a Sacrifice 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 35 

with every thing they Possess and be brought to 
Entire Ruin if they are Obliged to Answer the above 
Demand Therefore we Your Honours Petitioners hopes 
you will take the same into your Wise and Serious 
Consideration and gi-ant such Relief in the above 
Request as in your Wisdom may seem most meet 
And your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall Ever 

Pray &' 

Nathan Hodges ) 
Thomas m'^Conell >- Selectmen 
Soloman Parker ) 

We the Poor Distressed Inhabitants of said Town 
begs your Honom-s will Gratify the Selectmen in the 
above Request — 

Evan m*^Bean Oliver Hand 

Asa Fuller Job moulton 

Jonathan moulton Solomon Parker Jn^ 

Samuel Fuller Lemuel Hodges 

David Hodges Samuel Parker 



Report of a Committee Relative to 
A Soldier, 1786. 
The Committee to whom was referd a Petition in 
behalf of the Town of Lyman respecting Continental 
Soldiers having considered the same beg leave to 
report as their Opinion that said Town be allow'd for 
Thomas Piper a Continental Soldier in Gen^ Wash- 
ingtons Guards (furnished agreable to the requisition 



36 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

of the State) the sum of sixty pounds & the interest 
and that the Treasurer Credit the same in settling the 
Charge against said Town for deficiency of Soldiers — 

By order of the Committee 
Submitted per Nath^ Peabody 

(In H. of Rep. March 2, 1786, the foregoing report 
was accepted and adopted. Council concurred.-) 



Relative to Soldiers Furnished for the War. 

State of New Hampshire-Grafton ss Jany 19"» 1786 
To the Hon^ Gen^ Court of said State to be Con- 
ven'd at Portsmouth on the first Wednesday of 
February next by adjournment — 
The Petition of the Town of Lyman Humbly 
sheweth — 

That at the commencement of the Late war with 
Great Britain — Notwithstanding the many Imbarris- 
ments we then laboured under, by Reason of being 
Expos'd to our Enemy Sz.^ A number of the Inhabi- 
tants of said Town Inlisted and went into the service 
for short Campaigns That a number of said Inhabi- 
tants did Inlist into said service for three Years and 
During the war- that in the year of our Lord 1781 
your petitioners Received the Apportionment of this 
States Quota of Soldiers in said service (and Not- 
withstanding we conceiv'd we were Doom'd much to 
high) found we had abundantly more than our pro- 
portion in service- and proceeded to make return 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 37 

thereof to the Secrety- conceiving that we were not 
cal^ on to send the Number as affixed to us if we had 
ah-eady said number in the service of the war— That 
notwithstanding (and to our Great surprise) we were 
inform'd that there are now an Extent out against us 
for want of our proportion of Soldiers in said service 
when Ave in fact suppos'd that we had done as much 
more than our proportion, as to free us at least from 
paying any Tax during the war, — 

That in addition to our many Distresses — in the 
Year 1776 Every family and person in Town Had to 
moove out of the Town and keept Garrison untill 
they found they might as well be Kill^ by the Enemy 
as Die by famine, then mooved to Town again where 
they have ever since continued — and endeavoured by 
every passible means in Honesty to acquire a living — 

That if your Honours see fit to gi-ant us some Re- 
lief according to the Nature of our case Requires it 
will prevent our leaving Town — as all the personal 
property in said Town is Not sufficient to pay the 
Demand that the State has against us — 

Lyman Jan^ 19"^ 1786 

At a meeting of the Inhabitants of said Town 
Voted that Captain Nathan Hodges — be appointed an 
agent to repair to the General Court at their next 
Session and the foregoing petition is voted to be laid 
before said Court and request the agen^ of our Repre- 
sentative touching said petition — and Doubt not but 



38 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

Every attention will be paid thereto that the Nature 
of our case Requires, — and your Petitioners will Ever 
pray &^ 

Sam^ Parker Solomon Parker Jner 

Asa Parker Oliver Hand 

Abiel Knap Solomon Parker 

Sam^ Way Jonathan Knap 

Lem Parker Job Moulton 

Robert Barkley william Clough 

Evan m^'Bean Jon** Moulton 

Timothy Olmstead Jan son Hodges 



Petition of Non-Residents, 1787. 
State of New Hampshire — 

To the Hon^® Senate and House of Representatives in 
General Court convened at Portsmouth by Ad- 
journment — 

The Petition of John Penhallow Samuel Cutts & 
John Wendell Esq'^^ in behalf of themselves and 
Others Non Resident Prop^^ of the Township of Ly- 
man in the County of Grafton unto your Honours 
humbly shews — 

That this Hon^^ Court at their Sessions in Feb^ last 
were pleased to remitt to the Inhabitants of said Town- 
ship all their Taxes for a certain Number of Years by 
aspecial Resolve for that purpose — Which Resolve 
the said Selectmen considered as a total Exemption of 



HISTORICAL SKETniES. 39 

their real & personal property towards said Taxes in 
Consideration of Services done by y^ said Inhabitants 
of wliich they made no Charge to Government and as 
they knew not how to make their proportionable 
Abatement they have laid the whole Taxes on the 
Non resident Lands w^'^ is considered by them unjust 
and illegal — 

They therefore pray that this Hon^^ Court would 
appoint a Committee to determine what is the said 
Inhabitants Proportion. That the said Non residents 
may discharge theirs, of said Taxes, which they are 
ready to do — and other ways to relieve your Peti- 
tioners as to Justice and Equity belong — And as in 
Duty bound they will ever pray — 

John Penhallow 
John Wendell 
Sam^ Cutts 
Portsm« Jany 10"^ 1787 



Petition Relative to a Ferry, 1790. 
State of New Hampshire 

Lyman Decem^ 13"^ 1790 
To the Hon^ General Court of s^ State to be conven- 
ed at Concord on the first Wednesday of Jan- 
uary next — 
Humbly sheweth the Selectmen of Lyman afore- 
said, — that we Your Petitioners & Remonstrants are 
informed that a Petition has been prefered to Your 



40 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

Honorable Body by Jacob Hurd of Bath, wherein he 
prayed for the exclusive pre vile dge of Keeping a 
Ferry over Connecticutt River at the South westerly 
Corner of s*^ Lyman, which priviledge Your Petition- 
ers pray may not be granted to s'^ Hurd, and as it 
appears to Your Petitioners that the s*^ Town of 
Lyman have, in their Corporate Capacity, not only a 
Greater claim to a Grant of the s*^ Previledge than 
the s^ Hurd, but a more equitable claim than any 
other person, or Corporation, we pray that the exclu- 
sive previlege of opening & forever hereafter keeping 
a Ferry over Connecticutt River at the place mention- 
ed in s*^ Hurds aforesaid petition, & also any other 
Ferry or Ferrys against any part of s*^^ Lyman as oc- 
casion may hereafter require, may be gi'anted to the 
Selectmen thereof for the time l)eing, for the use & 
benefit of s*^ Lyman under such regulations as to Your 
Honors may appear most proper; and Your Petition- 
ers will pray 

Joseph Dexter } Selectmen of 
Lemuel Parker ) said Lyman 



Petition for Authority to tax Non-Residents, 
1790. 

State of New Hampshire 

Lyman March 1790 

To the Honorable Senate, and the Honorable 
House of Representatives of said State, to be 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 41 

con veil 'd at Concord on the first Wednesday 
of June next- 
Humbly sheweth — the Selectmen of said Lyman 
in behalf of said Town, that the Inhabitants, therein, 
are few in number, and in all probability are for a 
long time to come likely to remain so, by reason that 
the greatest part of the lands in Lyman aforesaid are 
owned by persons living out of this Town, and many 
of them out of this State, that by the exertions of 
Your Petitioners, the lands of the Non-resident Pro- 
prietors are continually increasing in their real value; 
and your petitioners have in a particular manner, 
made, and kept in repair. Roads, and Bridges in said 
Town, beyond their ability, — Therefore — Your Peti- 
tioners pray Your Honors to pass an Act enabling the 
Selectmen of Lyman, for the time being, to Assess, 
and order to be Collected, three pence per acre, on all 
the Lands of the Non-residents of said Town, for the 
Sole purpose of making, and repairing the highways 
and Bridges therein, or Grant such relief in the prem- 
ises as may appear reasonable, and Your Petitioners 
will pray 

Joseph Dexter ^ Selectmen of Lyman in 
Samuel Way > behalf and at the 
Lemuel Parker ) request of said Town 



42 historical sketches. 

Vote of Town Relative to a Ferry, 1791. 

At a legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of Lyman 
legally warned and held this 15"^ day of March 1791 — 

Voted to give to Jacob Hurd Esq^ all the right title 
claim Interest or demand said Inhabitants have to a 
certain ferry in said Lyman which ferry the said Hurd 
and the Selectmen of said Lyman hath petitioned for 
and a hearing to be had on said petitions before the 
general Court on the third Wednesday of their next 
session 

Atst Jon^ Moulton town Clerk 
15th March 1791 



Petition of Jacob Hurd for a Ferry, 1793. 

State of New Hampshire Grafton ss 

To the Hon^^^ General Com-t of s** State to be con- 
ven'd at Concord in s^ State on the first Wed- 
nesday of June next 

Humbly Sheweth — Jacob Hurd that he ownes the 
Land Adjoining Connecticut River in the Township 
of Lyman in s^ County where Elij^' Hall now lives 
opposite to Jacob Halls in the Township of Barnet in 
the State of Vermont at w^^ place a public Ferry is 
much wanted to accomedate the public. That the s^ 
Hurd petitioned the Gen^ Court of s^ State of New 
Hampshire at their Session at Portsmouth the Winter 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 43 

of 1789 or the beginning of Jan^y 1790 for a grant of 
a Ferry, across y® River at the place Aforem** on 
which petition the Gen^ Court ordered a Day of hear- 
ing in common form that the order of s** Court was 
complyd with by your Petitioner and a day of hearing 
was had upon s*^ Petition all of which was Attended 
with considerable Expence to him that on the Day of 
hearing the Selectmen of s** Lyman by their Agent 
opposed the prayer of your Petitioner being granted 
upon which the Gen^ Court posponed the hearing to 
their next Sessions and the mean Time a Town Meet- 
ing of s^ Lyman was warnd & held for the purpose 
when it was Voted & agreed the s^ Town relinquish 
to said Hurd all claim to a gi*ant of s^ Ferry a Copy 
of which Vote was given s^ Hurd and he again At- 
tended s^ Court agi-eeable to their Order — but the s** 
Petition was at that time unfortunately lost or mis- 
layed — therefore he prays Your Honors to take into 
Consideration the said premises and without any fur- 
ther hearing Grant Your Petitioner his Heirs and As- 
signs forever the priviledge of keeping a Ferry across 
s"* River extending up s** River to the Northerly line 
of s^ Lyman and down s** River about one Mile to the 
first Falls in s^ Lyman under such Restrictions and 
Limitations as to your Honors may Appear proper 
and your Petitioner as in Duty bound will ever pray — 
Dated at Lyman the 20*^ May 1793 in behalf of 

Jacob Hurd 
John Hurd 



44 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

(The charter for the privilege asked for was grant- 
ed by an act approved June 19, 1793.) 



Copies of Town Records. 

State of New Hampshire ( To Jacob Hurd Esq 
Grafton Ss 1 one of the Justis of the 

peace within and for the County of Grafton 

Humbly Shue The Subscribers freeholders and 

inhabitants of the town of Lyman in the County of 
Grafton that they have no town officers in the town 
nor any regular method of calling a meeting in said 
town for the chois of the same only by making appli- 
cation to a Justise of the peace to call a meeting of 
the Inhabitants of said town for that purpose there- 
fore request you to warn a meeting of the Inhabitants 
of said Town of Lyman as soon as may be to act on 
the following artikles Viz 

lly To Choose a moderator to govern said meet- 
ing. 

21y To Choos a Town Clerk Selectmen and Con- 
stable and all other Town officers as the law directs 

Witness our hand Dated Lyman Dec'" 20 A D 85 

Jon. Moulton Solomon Parker 

Ephraim knap Solomon Parker Jr 

Samuel Parker Nathan Hodges 

Evan McBean abial knap 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 45 



Robart Barkley Jon* knap 

Samuel Way . Asa Parker 



Grafton Ss 

Pursuant to the foregoing request the freeholders 
and other inhabitants of said Town of Lyman qualifyed 
as the law directs to vote in town meeting for the 
chois of Town officers are hereby notifyed and warned 
to meet at the Dwelling house of M'' Soloman Parker 
in said Lyman on Thursday fifth day of January A. 
D. 86 — at one of clock in the afternoon to vote and 
act on the artikles above mentioned 

Dated 20th Dec. A. D. 85 

Sined Jacob Hurd Justes Peace 



January 5*^ 1786 

At a town meeting held at the house of M"^ Solomon 
Parker 

1'^ Made Choise of Lemuel Parker town Clerk 

2"<* Choose Nathan Hodges moderator 

3^^ Choose Nathan Hodges Job Moulton Jonathan 
Knap (Selectmen) 

4^h Made choise of Even Mc. Bean Constable 

5**^ Voted to did adjourned to the 19*^ instant at one 
of the clock in the afternoon Thursday instant at 
the aforementioned on Thursdav 19"' March 



46 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

1** Voted Even McBean out of his post as Constable 

2°** Made Choise of Abial Knapp Constable 

S'^ Voted to and did adjourn to the third Tuesday 
of March 1786 



Lyman March 3 P^ 1786 
State of New harapshire Grafton ss Dated March 

This is to Notify and warn all the freeholders and 
other inhabitants of this town that is qualified accord- 
ing to law to vote in town affairs to meet at the dwell- 
ing house of M'^ Solomon Parker on Friday the 8P 
Day of march CmTant at one of the Clock in the after- 
noon to act on the following artikles Viz 

P* To Choose a moderator to manage said meeting 
2nd 'Pq Choose a town Clerk and Selectmen & Con- 
stable and all other town officers that is necesary 
for said town and also to act if the town thinks 
Proper whether the inhabitants will let swine run 
at large and to act on all other affairs that is 
necesary to act at said meeting 
Signed by 

Lemuel Parker Town Clerk 



( Nathan Hodges ) r? i ^ 
It ^u j.^ r Selectmen 
(Jonathan Knap ) 



At a town meeting March 10th 1807 "Voted that 
M"" Joseph Douglass should be put to the Lowest bid- 
der by the week for a year Jacob Gilman bid of M' 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 47 

Douglass at Five shillings and nine pence pe' week 
By the Year"— 

Lyman October 24th 1801 

at a Legal Meeting warned and held at David 
Moulton — 

lly Made Chois of william Gibson Moderator — 
21y Made Chois of Sanders Hodges grand Juror 
Sly Dissolved the Meeting 



Lyman 1802 

Som time last season we the subscribers Laid out a 
Road from the guide post from the main Road Lead- 
ing to the mill now owned by W"^ Presbury a mit of 
from said main Road to Presbury mill 

Sanders Hodejes ^^ , ^ 
^■1 17 f^ Selectmen 

Stephen Ji,astman 



Lyman April 3"' 1802 

To all concerned this may certify that we the Sub- 
scribers do herby Lisen Lemuel Parker a tavner in 
the town of Lyman for one j^ear and that he the said 
Parker is and shall be provided with Sutable Enter- 
tainment for boarders according to Law 

Lookout Wriffht ^j i 4. 
T u T> V Selectmen 

John iJarber 



Lyman 4th April 1805 

This may certify whom it may Concern we the 
Subscribers grant Licents to William Barkley to Sell 



48 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

f origan Distiled Sperets by the small quantity and 

keep a tavern for the term of one year from this Date 

in the Town above named 

a true Copy 

Attst Daniel Moulton 

Town Clerk David Gordon Selectmen 

Stephen Eastman of Lyman 



Proceedings in Special Town Meeting Sept. 2d 1864 
2d Voted to pay the sum of nine hundred dollars, in 
addition to the sum already voted, to each person who 
shall volunteer and be mustered into the service of 
the IT. S. from this town to fill our Quota under the 
present call for Troops. 




State of New Hampshire. 



In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- 
dred and five An Act incorporating certain persons by the 
name of the proprietors of Lyman Social Library — 

Beit enacted ])y the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives in General Court convened that Nathan Leavitt, 
Daniel Moulton, Jonathan Moulton and William 
Gibson and their associates proprietors of said Library, 
and all such as may become hereafter proprietors of 
the same be, and tliey hereby are incorporated into a 
body politic, by the name of the proprietors of Lyman 



HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 49 

Social Library with Continuation and succession for- 
ever, and in that name may sue and be sued, may 
plead and be impleaded in all personal actions, and 
may prosecute and defend the same to final judgement 
and execution; and they are hereby vested with all the 
powers and privileges incident to corporations of a 
similar nature, and may enjoin penalties of disfran- 
chisement or fine not exceeding five Dollars for such 
offence to be recovered in an action of debt by said 
proprietors, to then* use in any Court proper to try 
same, and they may make purchase, and receive sub- 
scriptions, of personal estate, not exceeding one thous- 
and dollars, for the purpose and use of their associa- 
tion. 

And be it further enacted that said proprietors, be 
and they hereby are empowered and authorized to as- 
semble at said Lyman on the first monday in novem- 
ber annually to choose all such officers as may be found 
necessary for the orderly conducting the affairs of 
said corporation, who shall continue in Oftice until 
others are chosen in theu* room; and that said pro- 
prietors may assemble as often as may be found neces- 
sary for the filling up any vacancies which happen in 
said offices, and for transacting all other business ex- 
cepting the raising of monies, which shall always be 
done at their annual meeting and at no other time, at 
which annual meeting they shall vote all necessary 
sums for defraying the annual expence of preserving 



50 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 

said Library and for enlarging the same, and said pro- 
prietors shall have power to make such rules, and 
bylaws for the government of said corporation, as 
may from time to time by them be found necessary, 
provided the same be not repugnant to the Constitu- 
tion and laws of this State. And be it further enact- 
ed that Nathan Leavitt and Daniel Moulton or either 
of them are hereby authorized and impowered to call 
the first meeting of said proprietors, at such time and 
place as they may appoint by posting a notification 
for that purpose at any public place in said Lyman, at 
least fifteen days prior to said meeting, and the said pro- 
prietors, at said meeting shall have the same power, 
to choose Officers and make byelaws as they have by 
this act at their annual meeting — 

State of New Hampshire — 

In the House of Representitives 

June W" 1805— 

The foregowing Bill having had three several read- 
ings passed to be enacted — 

Sent up for Concurance — 

Samuel Bell Speaker — 

In Senate June 14"^ 1805 

This Bill having been read a third time was 

enacted — 

Clement Storer President — 

Approved June 15*^ 1805 — 

John Langdon Gov'r 




NOAH MOULTON JR. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 51 



CHAPTER IV. 

EARLY SETTLERS. 

PARKER— MOULTON—CLOUGH—COWEN— CALHOUN— MARTIN— BABBER 
—HODGES — BURT — DODGE — STEVENS — GORDON — KNAPP— MINER- 
EASTMAN— MOMILLEN — MERRILL — PORTER — SANBORN — WRIGHT — 
DRAKE— B AILKY— LITTLE— UN DEBWOOD— BARK LEY. 

Solomon Parker, the progenitor of the Parkers 
in^Lyman, came from Mass., and was one of the first 
settlers in the town. He located on Parker Hill, 
some distance from where the main road now is, and 
nearly opposite the Dr. Samuel Hoskins place. He 
and his three sons — Solomon Jr., Asa and Samuel — 
served in the war of the Revolution, entering the 
army from Lyman, and all returned to town. Mr. 
Parker married Hepsibah Douglass and their children 
were, namely: Solomon Jr., born Sept. 30, 1753; 
Samuel, born April 13, 1755; Lemuel, born November 
5, 1756; John, born November 8, 1758; Asa, born 
January 12, 1760; Sarah, born Sept. 21, 1761; Isaac, 
born May 15, 1768; Levi, born November 8, 1764; 
David, born June 24, 1766; and Hepsibah, born 
October 8, 1768. Solomon Parker died March 18, 
1798, aged seventy-five years, his wife, Hepsibah, died 
in 1820, aged ninety-three years. Solomon Parker's 
daughter, Sarah, died June 15, 1777, and was the first 



52 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

person buried in Lyman. These people are all bur- 
ied in the cemetery on Parker Hill, and Mr. Douglass, 
the father of Mrs. Parker, who died at the advanced 
age of one hundred years and twenty-one days, is also 
buried there. 

Solomon Parker Jr., son of Solomon, married 
Susa Beedle of Bath, Sept. 13, 1780, and located on 
the farm above Young's pond, since occupied by 
Abial Smith. Their children were, namely: Sarah, 
born in 1781; Hannah, born in 1782; Clarisa, born in 
1784; Douglass and Prescott, twins, born in 17 
Mahalah, born in 1788; John W., 
William M., born in 1793; Sanmel, 
Susannah, born in 1797; Mariam, 
Leonard, born in 1802; and Life Y., 
Solomon Parker Jr., died July 9, 1843, and 
died in 1837, aged eighty-one years. 

Samuel Parker, son of Solomon, married Candase 
Hand, and located on Moulton Hill opposite where 
the school house now stands, where he lived in a log 
house, and owned a few acres of land. His children 
were, namely: Parmelia, born in 1785; Chilsom, born 
in 1786; Emma, born in 1788; Sally, born in 1791; 
Thurza, born in 1792; Dorcas; and Ira. Chilsom 
man-ied Ruby Pennock, Ira married Fanny Barber, 
Parmelia married Moses Stickney, Thurza married 
Solomon Hoskins, and Sally was never married. 
Samuel Parker died in 1834, at the age of seventy- 
eight years. 



born 


in 1790; 


born 


in 1795; 


born 


in 1799; 


born 


in 1804; 


, and 


his wife 



tm M" '^^^ 1 



I 




LEONARD PARKER. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 53 

Lemuel Parker, son of Solomon, married, first, 
Abigail Ring; he man-ied, second, Tabitha Cass. The 
children of their first marriage were, namely: Hepsi- 
bah; Bulah, wife of Richard Fowler; John, born in 
1779; Moody; Levi; and Moses. He located on Par- 
ker Hill on the farm since owned by David Hoskins, 
where he kept a tavern, also owned a store and was 
the first town clerk, and a prominent man in the early 
history of the town. He died at the home of his 
daughter, Mrs. Samuel Cass, in 1829. 

Asa Parker, son of Solomon, married and located 
in town. His children were, namely: Anna, born in 
1787; Ruth, born in 1789; Mary, born in 1791; Hannah, 
born in 1792; Asa, born in 1794; Amos, born in 1797; 
Weathy, born in 1799; and Diantha, born in 1803. 

Isaac Parker, son of Solomon, married Esther 
Fisk of Orford, N. H., and located on Clough Hill on 
the place lately occupied by Hiram Ingerson. His 
children were, namely: Nathan, born in 1791; Even, 
born in 1793; Betsy, born in 1795; Susannah, born in 
1797; Mira, born in 1799; Isaac Jr., born in 1802; 
Zadock, born in 1804; Solomon; and Lucina. Mr. 
Parker died in 1851, at the age of eighty-eight years. 

Levi Parker, son of Solomon, married and for a 
time resided in town. Among his cildren was Samuel 
Douglass, late of Lisbon, N. H. 

David Parker, son of Soloinon, married and loca- 
ted in town. Among his children were, namely: 



54 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Simon, born in 1787; Lemuel, born in 1760; Abigail, 
born in 1792; David, born in 1797; Isabel, born in 
1799; Emma, born in 1802; and Aaron, born in 1803. 

Prescott Parker, son of Solomon Jr., married 
Hannah Amy, and located on the place now owned 
by Emanuel Haynes. Among his children were: 
Douglass, Prescott Jr., Elvira, lolantha, Persis, Hannah, 
and Eviline. He was a hard working, honest citizen, 
and had good standing in the community. He died 
March 6, 1874, aged eighty-eight years. 

Leonard Parker, son of Solomon Jr., married 
Olive Hoskins and lived on the Adam Gibson place. 
He was a very religious man, a good citizen, and much 
respected by all who knew him. Plis children were: 
George, and Marilla. He died August 8, 1877, at the 
age of seventy-five years and six months. 

Douglass Parker, son of Prescott Sen., married 
Jemima Carter and always lived in town. Among 
his children were: Shepard, Leuellyn, Charles, and 
Caleb. The three latter served in the w^ar of the 
Rebellion. Shephard resided in town. 

Evan Parker, son of Isaac, married Nancy, 
daughter of William Martin Sen. He hved in various 
parts of the town, but spent the gi-eater part of his 
life on Clough Hill. Among his children were, 
namel}': Amos, Martin, and Esther Ann. He died in 
1873, at the age of eighty years. 




MRS. NOAH MOULTOX JR. 



BIOGRAPTHCAL SKETCHES. 55 

Moody Parker, son of Lemuel who was a son of 
Solomon, was bom in Lyman, married Millicent, 
daughter of Noah Moulton, and moved to Wolcott, 
Vt., where he died Feb. 24, 1869, at the age of 
eighty-four years. Among his children were, namely: 
Fanny, Daniel Moulton, Clark, Ransel, and Ellen. 

Levi Parker, brother of the above, was born in 
town, married Priscilla, daughter of Noah Moulton, 
and among their children were, namely: Richard 
Fowler, Henry, Jonathan, Priscilla, and Russell. Mr. 
Parker moved to Wolcott, Vt., where he died Jan- 
uary 13, 1864, at the age of seventy-seven years. 

Noah Moulton was the paternal ancestor of the 
Moulton family in Lyman, and came from Rye, N. H., 
about 1770. His homestead was on the Madison 
Moulton farm on Moulton Hill. The house was south 
of where the present buildings are situated, and near 
the Bath line, where the cellar can now be seen. He 
entered the Revolution with his two sons, Noah and 
Jonathan, and was taken prisoner and died.* What 
little is known of his wife. Patience Locke, distin- 
guishes her as a woman of great superiority of mind 
and character. Her influence in moulding the intel- 
lectual bent and habits of her children was an im- 
portant factor in their training. She died in 1814, at 

*It is claimed by some of the descendants of the family that he died 
in the French and Indian war, but how that can be possible is not 
easily understood, as that war was closed in 1763, and his son John was 
born in 17C6. 



56 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

the age of eighty-three years. The children of this 
marriage were, namely: William, Noah Jr., Jonathan, 
Daniel, David, John, Job, Sarah, Abigail, and Polly. 
Abigail married Bernard Powers Sept. 14, 1791, and 
they remained in Lyman several years, but afterwards 
moved to Hardwick, Vt. William went to New York 
and never returned. The other six sons settled on 
Moulton Hill with farms adjoining, and all became 
prosperous citizens. 

Noah Moulton Jr., married Priscilla Barron, and 
settled on the farm since owned by Searle Eastman 
and reared a family of fourteen children, namely: 
Priscilla, Jonathan, David, Sally, INIiliicient, Fanny, 
Barron, WiUiam, Jacob, Noah, Smith, Charles, Hulda, 
and Rinaldo. He died in 1850, at the age of ninety- 
one years. His v/ife Priscilla died in 1861, aged 
ninety-three years. 

Jonathan Moulton, son of Noah, married Patience 
Gibson, a sister of Adam Gibson, and located on the 
farm since owned by Gabriel G. Moulton, where he 
reared a family of twelve children, namely: Betsy, 
Jonathan, Roxanna, Samuel, John, Annie, Hannah, 
Sabrina, Nathan, Gabriel, Frank and Reuben. He 
died in 1846, at the age of ninety years. 

David Moulton, son of Noah, married Sally 
Knapp, daughter of Jonathan Knapp, and settled on 
the old homestead. There Avere eleven children of 
this marriage, namely : Benjamin, Daniel, George, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 57 

James Madison, Albert, David, Lucy, Joanna, El- 
mira, Martha and Hulda. He died in 1841, at the 
age of seventy-eight years. 

John Moulton, son of Noah, married Polly Smith, 
a sister of Reuben Smith, and located on the farm 
since owned by Guy Moulton, and reared a family of 
thirteen children, namely: Noah, Guy, Col. John, 
Ethan, Robert, Webster, Mary, Hittie, Charlotte, 
Tildy, Betsy, and a boy and girl who died in infancy. 
He died in 1849, at the age of eighty-three years. / (^al 

Job Moulton, son of Noah, married A«^ Way, a 
sister of Mrs. Robert Barkley, and settled on the farm 
since owned by Benjamin Dow. His children were, 
namely: Isaac, Alpheus, Alden, Patience, Nabby, f^t-^o^ 
Ruby, Mindwell, Martha, and three others. He died 
in 1838, at the age of eighty-six years. 

Daniel Moulton, son of Noah, married Millicient 
Wheeler, and settled on the farm now occupied by 
Hiram Ash. He died in 1836, aged seventy- three 
years. 

James Madison Moulton, son of David who was 
a son of Noah, married Betsy Titus and remained on 
the old homestead. There were ten children of this 
marriage. He died in 1865, aged fifty-six years. 
Among his children is Hon. Herbert B. Moulton of 
Lisbon. 

Gabriel G. Moulton, son of Jonathan who was a 
son of Noah, married, first, Sophia Walker and locat- 



58 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

ed on the farm owned by his father, and reared a 
family of five children. He married, second, Hannah 
Hoskins, and died in Littleton in 1899, at the age of 
eighty-nine years. 

Jonathan Moulton, Jr., son of Jonathan who 
was a son of Noah, married Martha Moulton and 
located on Moulton Hill, where Capt. Calvin Titus 
since lived. He had four children and died in Mc- 
Indoes Falls, Vt., in 1876, at the age of eighty years. 

Barron Moulton, son of Noah Jr., who was a 
son of Noah, married Roxanna Moulton, and located 
on the Daniel Moulton farm. He remained in town 
many years. He was a person of keen intellect, and 
one of the leading business men of his time. He 
moved to Lower Waterford, Vt., where he was en- 
gaged in trade for several years with his partner, 
Hiram Cutting. Later, he located in St. Johnsbury, 
Vt., where he became interested in banking, and other 
financial affairs. He reared a large family of children; 
and his son, Barron Clinton, a graduate of Yale 
college, is at present practicing law in the city of 
Boston. Mr. Moulton died in St. Johnsbury, October 
10, 1874, at the age of seventy-six years. 

Guy Moulton, son of John who was a son of 
Noah, married Mercy Moore. He died in 1886, aged 
ninety-three years. 

CoL. John Moulton, brother of the above, married 
Lucy Titus, and died in Lj^man. 




BYROX P. MOULTON. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 59 

Noah Moultox, son of Noah Jr., was born May 
4, 1803. In 1830 he married Ruth Cowen, and 
reared a family of six children. Mrs. Moulton died 
in 1863, at the age of sixty-one years. Mr. Moulton 
removed to Monroe in 1856, where he remained till 
1866, when he went to Iowa. He was married in 
1871 to Mrs. Marilla Keeney, and in 1872 they came 
East to Tolland, Conn., Mrs. Moulton's native town. 
Mr. Moulton died in Tolland, May 28, 1893, and was 
buried on Moulton Hill. 

Byron P. Moultox, son of Noah and Ruth 
(Cowen) Moulton, was born in Lyman May 5, 1836, 
and married Elizabeth R. Hunter of Philadelphia, in 
Oct., 1868. He located in Chicago in 1869, and en- 
gaged in the manufacture of metal goods, including 
lightning rods, ornaments, etc., in Philadelphia, with 
his partners Messrs. Reyburn and Hunter, both of 
whom are long since dead. 

Mr. Moulton retired from active business in 1887; 
when he came East and built a home at Rosemont, a 
suburb of Philadelphia, where he now resides. He 
has accumulated an ample fortune, and is, at present, 
interested in street railways and banks, both in the 
East and West. 

Noah Moulton, son of John, who was a son of 
Noah, married Sally Floyd, and reared a family of 
nine children; among whom is Web Moulton of Lisbon. 
He died in 1864 at the age of seventy-two years. 



60 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

William Clough served in the French and Indian 
war three years, was captured l)y the foe and carried 
to France, where he was kept a year or more. He 
entered the Revolution without enlistment, and was 
at the battle of Bunker Hill. His children were, 
namely : Zacheus, Enoch, Bailey, Cyrus, Abner, Jere- 
miah, Ehzabeth, and Dorcas. Elizabeth died in Ly- 
man Feb. 21, 1812. Dorcas married John Connor 
and lived in Henniker, N. H. Mr. Clough came to 
Lyman from Salem, Mass., about 1785, bringing with 
him his family, and located on Clough Hill, near the 
great rock. He died August 21, 1798, at the age of 
sixty-four years, four months and two days. 

Cyrus Clough, son of William, married Mary 
Stevens, daughter of Timothy Stevens, Nov. 24, 1803, 
and remained on the old homestead. His children 
were, namely : Oramil, Rhoda, Lydia, Julia, Frederic, 
Ann, Cyrus, Dorcas, Lorrain, Mary, Persis, Lilias, and 
Timothy. He died in 1850, at the age of seventy- 
seven years. 

Zacheus Clough, son of William, married Miss 
Pettee, and lived on the farm since owned by Rawson 
McAlpen, on the road under the mountain. His chil- 
dren were, namely : Ezra, born in 1816; Joel, born 
in 1818; Samuel Hoskins, born in 1820; Daniel; 
Hiram; Jeffery ; Robert; Abigail; Sarah ; and Eliza. 

Enoch Clough, son of William, married Betsy, a 
sister of Reuben Smith. Among his children were, 



BIOGRAPIHCAL SKETCHES. 61 

namely : William, Ezekiel, Horatio, Elizabeth, Isaac, 
Delancy, Stephen, and Jerome. He lived in Monroe, 
but died in Lyman. 

Bailey Clough, son of William, married Susannah 
Smith, sister of Reuben Smith, Nov. 28, 1799. Their 
children were, namely: James, born in 1801 ; David, 
born in 1803; Darius, born in 1809; Benoni, born in 
1812; Chester Hutchins, born in 1822; Susan; and 
Bailey. 

Abxer Clough, son of William, married Nancy 
Corey, a sister of OHver Corey. His children were, 
namely : Uzziel, Ephraim, Jane, Dan, Jeremiah, 
Rebecca W., Matilda, Salinda, G. Dudley, Martha and 
Martin. He lived on Clough Hill, and died in Bath, 
in 1833, at the age of fifty-six years. 

Jeremiah Clough, son of William, married Miss 
Abbott, and located in Landaff. Among his children 
were, namely: Ruth, Cynthia, Jason, Sophia, Eber, 
and Henry. 

James Clough, son of Bailey who was a son of 
William, married Azubah Temple, and lived in vari- 
ous parts of the town. His children were, namely: 
Phebe A., Larkin H., Susan, Harriet, James, Darius, 
Azubah, Oren, Almina F., Eli Hoskins, and Samuel 
Hoskins, who were twins, Grizilda, and Ira F. He 
died in 1875, at the age of seventy-four years. 

James Clough Jr., son of the above, was born in 
1828. He married Mary C. Eaton, and has a large 



62 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

family of children. Among his children are John and 
James who still reside in town. John has represented 
the town in the state legislature four years. 

Timothy Clough, son of Cyrus, married Laura 
Clark. He died on Clough Hill, May 27, 1891, at the 
age of sixty-five years. His son Ward still resides in 
town. 

Zachartaii Cowen was born May 19, 1770, and 
from what information can be obtained in the family 
records, it is probable that he was born in New Ips- 
wich, N. H. When very young he was brought to 
this section of the state, and taken into a family by 
the name of Hurd. This probably was Jacol) Hurd 
of Bath, as no man by the name of Hurd was living 
in Lj'man at that time. Mr. Cowen married Miss 
Zeruiah Streeter of Lisbon, and located in L;yTnan, on 
the brook road, near the Bath line, where he reared a 
family of thirteen children, namely: James, Debby, 
David, ' Charles, Hannah, Zachariah, Ruth, Sally, 
John, William, Spofford, Louisa, and Betsy. He held 
various positions of trust, and his name is found on 
the town books as early as 1796. He lived at one 
time across the Bath line in the Pettyborough district, 
but most of his life was passed in Lyman. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cowen both died in Lyman, on a farm near the 
east side of Young's pond. 

The Rev. Charles Cowex was born in Lyman, 
Nov. 19, 1797, and received his education in the com- 





REV. CHARLES CO^VEN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 63 

mon schools of his native town. In early life he 
worked eight years on a farm for Mr. Hutchins of 
Bath, probably one of the merchants in upper Bath 
village. He married Clarissa Barrett of Vershire, 
Vt., and reared a family of ten children, namely : 
Silas, Lucinda, Mary, Abigail, Ezra, Charles Wesley, 
Susan, William, George W., and Orrin B. Mr. Cowen 
became converted in 1818, and at once began to pre- 
pare himself to preach the Gospel. He received a 
license to preach in 1827, and was received into the 
N. E. Methodist Conference in 1828. His first circuit 
in 1828-9 was one hundred miles in extent, and occu- 
pied three weeks of his time in making the round of 
appointments. He labored in various towns in New 
Hampshire and Vermont, until 1840, when, owing to 
ill health, he retired to his farm near Cowen's pond, 
in Lyman, where he remained three years. In 1843 
he moved to Lisbon, and again took up his pastoral 
duties which he continued until 1851, when he became 
superannuated and returned to Lyman, locating in the 
pond district. During his ministry he officiated at 
over six hundred funerals. He was highly esteemed 
as a man and a minister, and represented the town of 
Lisbon in the state legislature in the years 1846-7. 
The Rev. Charles Cowen was a man far in advance of 
his time. His ideas were broad and liberal, and his 
teaching was always kindness and love. He died in 
Lyman, at the home of his son George W., May 23, 



64 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

1869, and was buried in the cemetery at Lisbon vil- 
lage. His wife died Feb. 27, 1877, at the age of 
seventy-seven years. 

James Calhoun was born in the north of Ireland, 
and became a citizen of Lyman as early as 1790. He 
married Miss Sally Streeter, a sister of Zachariah 
Cowen's wife, and located on the farm since o^\ned 
by Jehial Knapp, west of Parker Hill, where he 
reared a family of five children, namely : Solomon, 
Isaac, James Jr., Mary, and David. 

James Calhoux, Jr., was born in 1799, married 
Philena Robbins, and for a time remained on the old 
homestead. His children were, namely : Isaac, Sarah 
J., Lydia, Clementine, Mar}^ R., Luella, and Elizabeth. 
Mr. Calhoun was a famous school teacher in his day, 
and taught over fifty terms of school. He died in 
Lyman, August 20, 1880. 

William Martin became a citizen of Lyman about 
the time of its settlement. He married and settled on 
the William Dee Stevens place, and died in 1850, at 
the age of ninety-eight years. He was a famous 
hunter and trapper, going off on huating expeditions 
and remaining months at a time. He was frequently 
accompanied on these trips by an Indian to whom he 
was very much attached. The last time Martin went 
off on a hunting trip, he was seventy years old, and 
went up into northern Vermont, where he remained 
several weeks, with his headquarters and camp at 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 65 

Victoiy Bogg. He returned with furs which he took 
to Haverhill and sold for sixty dollars. He was ac- 
companied by the Indian during this trip. He was quite 
a picturesque figure, being a large tall man, and always 
wore his hair long and braided down his back. He 
was a firm believer in witches, hence in his old age 
the young people were apt to impose upon his credu- 
lity. He had one son, William, and four daughters; 
one married Evan Parker, one maiTied Isaac Parker, 
one married an Amy, and one a Carr. His son 
William, married Betsy Noyes, and he always lived 
in town. He died July 26, 1882, at the age of ninety- 
two yeary, eight months and twent^^-one days. His 
wife died in 1885, at the age of ninety-six years. 

Capt. John Barber was a Hessian in the war of 
the Revolution. He deserted and came to our lines, 
and served through the war. He married Miss 
Marriam Eastman of Haverhill,, and came to Lyman v 

in the early history of the town. Capt. Barber was a 
great lover of good horses, and always owned nice 
well trained di'ivers. He had wonderful control over 
horses, and by his magnetic influence, could at once 
subdue the most vicious animal. He was a short thick 
set man, good farmer, industrious, and a good citizen. ^^ 

He died Dec. 8, 1843, at the age of eighty-two years. - 
He had only one child, William, who married .E»by, CUi^tx^i^ 
daughter of Job Moulton. The children of this mar- 
riage were, namely: Marriam, born in 1809; John, 



66 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

born in 1810; Nathan D., born in 1814; Ruby, bonr 
in 1816; Isaac Eastman, born in 1821; Lydia, born in 
1826; and Austin, born in 1829. Mr. Barl)er died 
March 3, 1858, at the age of seventy-three jesa's, two 
months and one day. John married Betsy Tainter 
and had two children, namely: Milo, and Hattie. He 
died in 1862, at the age of fifty-one years. Isaac 
married Augusta, daughter of Searle Eastman, and 
lived for many j^ears on the old homestead. He died 
in Lisbon, in 1893. 

Hodges: — David, Nathan, Janson, Lemuel — were 
among the first settlers. They held public positions 
in town, and were active in the early histor}^ of 
Lyman. Nathan Hodges signed the first invoice of 
the town. Their homes were near the woods in the 
pasture of Osman P. Titus, opposite the Kent place, 
where the cellars can now be seen ; also some apple 
trees which were set out by them. They v.ere the 
first settlers in that locality, and cleared the land. 
The public road at that time was laid out past their 
houses, coming out near the Wel)Ster place. The 
Hodges were relatives of the Knapps, and came to 
town about the same time. 

Fraxcis Burt married Betsy Wright, and came to 
town from the southern part of the state, before 1800. 
Mrs. Burt said the bears were so numerous when they 
first came, that they were obliged to keep their sheep 
in a pen under their window, and when they heard a 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 67 

noise, they would go out and drive bruin off. Mr. 
Burt reared a family of nine children, namely: John 
a child of a previous marriage ; Barnard ; Francis Jr. 
Joseph; Abigail; Maranda; Caroline; Jerome; and 
Jonathan. Mr. Burt died Sept. 22, 1857, at the age of 
eighty-eight years, and six months. John married 
Margarett Gibson, and lived on the place since owned 
by Leonard Parker, which he kept open as a tavern. 
This and the tavern kept by Lemuel Parker were the 
only ones ever in town. There was a good hall in 
the ell, where entertainments, dances, etc., were held. 
Later, he moved to the West, where he died. 

Francis Burt Jr., married Malinda Quint, and 
lived on the Moses Walker farm. He died July 10, 
1866, at the age of fifty-seven years and four months. 

Jonathan Burt married Corris Ann Dyke, and 
lived for a time on the old homestead. 

David Dodge was born in New Boston, N. PL, in 
1760. He married Letty Tallent, and moved to 
Dodge's Falls, when a young man. He became a 
citizen of Lyman before 1800, locating on Moulton 
Hill, a little south of the place now owned by Williard 
Chase; later he moved to Dodge's pond, where he died 
March 25, 1848. His children were: James, David, 
Samuel, John, and Mary. Mary married Isaac Foster. 

David Dodge Jr., married Mariah Foster, and re- 
mained on the old homestead, where he reared a large 
family of children. He died September 18, 1869, 
aged seventy years. 



68 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

James Dodge married Nancy Foster, and located 
near Dodge's pond. His children were: Richard, and 
Isaac. He died in 1851, aged forty-nine years. 

John Dodge married Mary Tallent, and reared a 
family of five children, namely: Moody, Rinaldo, 
Edwin, Darwin, and Cordelia. 

Timothy Stevens came to Bath at a very earl}^ 
date and lived in the Pettyborough district. His son, 
Timothy Jr., came to Lyman before 1 800, married 
Martha Sanborn April 2, 1801, and lived on the 
Stevens place under the mountain. He died March 
7, 1837 at the age of sixty years. His wife died in 
1872, at the age of ninety-five years. They reared 
a family of ten children, namely: Jehial, Austin W., 
Herod, Joshua, Loren, Ethan S., Seth C, Michael M,, 
Mary Jane; and Ebenezer C. 

Ebenezer C. Stevens was born Dec. 11, 1814, 
and remained on the old homestead for many years. 
He took an active part in public matters, represented 
the tovrn in the state legislature, and held various 
other positions of trust. He was a man of superior 
intelligence, a fine conversationalist, and remarkably 
well informed on political, historical, and religious 
topics. He was identified with the Methodist church, 
and excelled as a Bible teacher. He married, first, 
Martha Miner, and had two children, namely: Seth C, 
and Sophia. Seth C. resides in Newton, Mass. 
Sophia died when a young lady. He married, second. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. G9 

Mrs. Priscilla Hibbard, and moved to Lisbon. While 
in Lisbon he was engaged in mining business to some 
extent. He died Sept. 1, 1881. 

Michael M. Stevens was born July 21, 1817, and 
was a leading man in town for many years. He re- 
ceived his early education in the common schools of 
his native town, and, later, studied in the academy at 
Concord Vt., and Lyme, N. H. In early life, he 
was engaged for several years in teaching school in 
the winter, and in farm work the remainder of the 
time. He was a representative of Lyman two years 
in the state legislature; was moderator, selectman, and 
town clerk for seven years. As an auctioneer he was 
noted for nearly fifty years. He lived on the Thorn- 
ton, Dyke and Underwood farms, and later engaged 
in mercantile business, and moved to Lisbon. He 
married Hannah Thornton, who died August 16, 1900, 
at the age of seventy-five years. 

Herod Stevens was born in 1805, and remained 
a few years in town after his majority. He married 
Annie Moulton, and they had four children. He held 
the ofiice of sheriff for several years, and was often 
honored by his townsmen with political preferment. 
He subsequently lived in Lisbon and Littleton, where 
he died. 

Seth C. Stevens went South, and at one time 
owned a large plantation and many slaves in Georgia. 
He died during the early part of the Rebellion, and 
his property was confiscated. 



70 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Deacon David Gordon was born in Connecticut, 
married Hannah Hiird from the same state, and came 
to Lyman before 1800, locating on the farm after- 
wards occupied by David G. Eastman. Mrs. Gordon 
was twenty years her husband's senior, and being a 
woman of education and refinement, taught him the 
rudiments of an education after their marriage. He 
had only one child, Roxanna. Dea. Gordon was a 
man of gi'eat physical power, and a prominent citizen 
of the town in his day. He married, second, Roxanna 
Sampson from Landaff, and died Dec. 5, 1862, at the 
age of ninety-four years and five months. His wife 
Hannah Hurd, died Dec. 3, 1829, at the age of 
seventy-nine years. Mr. Gordon had a brother, Jona- 
than, who lived in Bath ; also three sisters, Mrs. Isaac 
Miner, Mrs. Oliver Corey and Mrs. Samuel Millen who 
resided in town. 

Abial Knapp came to Lyman from Norton, Mass., 
in 1781, and was the first settler upon the farm now 
owned by Capt. Richards. This farm was given him 
by one of the proprietors on condition that he would 
settle thereon, and was in possession of the family for 
one hundred and three years. He married Kezia 
Cheney June 9, 1760, and had two daughters, and one 
son, namely : Betsy, Mehitable, and Elijah. He was 
a small man, but very athletic. He went into Lemuel 
Parker's store one evening and found several men 
sitting around a blazing open lire, and as he entered 



BIOGRAPAICAL SKETCHES. 71 

the circle, one of the party in a playful mood, snatched 
his old hat from his head and threw it into the fire. 
Mr. Knapp quickly siezed the joker, flung him onto 
the burning logs and placed his foot upon him. He 
was rescued, however, before serious injury was done, 
and added to his stock of knowledge the fact that it 
was a wise policy to allow Abial's hat to remain in its 
proper place. Mr. Knapp died May 25, 1832, at the 
age of ninety-nine years. 

Elijah Knapp, son of Abial, married Sally Elliott, 
and lived on the old Knapp farm. He had seven 
sons and five daughters. Among his children were, 
namely: Amasa, Daniel, Abial Jehial, Ariel, Hiram, 
Stella, Letty, Mariah, Emily, and Hittie. He died in 
1860, at the age of ninety-one years. His wife died 
in 1868, at the age of ninety-two years. 

Hiram Knapp, son of Elijah, married Hepsey Hall, 
and lived on the old homestead. He died January 
22, 1878, at the age of seventy-six years, one month 
and one day. 

Atrial Kxapp, son of Elijah, married Abigail 
Fowler, first, and married Millissa Whitcomb, second. 
He was born May 14, 1805, and died August 16, 1886. 

Jehial Knapp, son of Elijah, married Daphne 
Bartlett, first, and his children were: Ira O., Arial and 
Salome. He married, second, Emily Kelsea, and died 
in 1864 at the age of fifty-seven years. 

Daniel Knapp, son of Elijah, married Sarah Hall, 
and settled near Clough Hill. His children were, 



72 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

namely: Horace, Uri, Uriah, Mary, Julia Ann, Annette, 
and Angeline. He died in 1861, at the age of sixty- 
four years. 

Ira Oscar Knapp, C. S. D., son of Jehial, was born 
in Lyman, June 7, 1839. He received an academic 
education at Newbury and Peacham, Vt.; and in early 
life taught winter terms of school in Lyman and ad- 
joining towns. He married Flavia Stickney May 1, 
1866, and lived for many years in various parts of the 
town. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp commenced the study of 
Christian Science in 1884; and in December of that 
year began to take class instruction from Mrs. Mary 
Baker Eddy, at the Metaphysical College in Boston. 
In 1888 they left Lyman and located in Boston. Mrs. 
Knapp was a member of the "Board of Missionaries" 
and "Board of Education;" and also a teacher of 
Christian Science. Mr. Knapp is one of the four 
members of the "Christian Science Bible Lesson Com- 
mittee;" and was chosen the first president of the 
board of directors of The First Church of Christ, 
Scientist, which position he still retains. He is a man 
of culture, a person of influence, and has held many 
positions of trust and honor in Lyman. 

Jonathan Knapp, brother of Abial, came to 
Lyman about 1783, and it is quite probable that he 
had a large family of children. He died at the ad- 
vanced age of over one hundred years. He and his 
brother Abial were both very prominent in the early 




^% 





IRA OSCAR KXAPP, C. S. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 73 

history of the town. The Knapps of Lyman were 
men of capacity, sound judgment, and unquestioned 
honor. 

Thomas Miner moved to Littleton from Connect- 
icut, about 1785 with a large family of children. He 
soon came to Lyman, locating on the place now oc- 
cupied by Hiram Ingerson. He died in 1810, at the 
age of seventy-six years. 

William Miner, a son of the above, served in the 
war of the Revolution, and stood guard over Major 
Andre the night before he was hung. He came to 
Lyman about 1786, married Hepsibah, daughter of 
Solomon Parker Sen., and located on the farm since 
owned by J. Denison Miner. His children were : 
Solomon P., born in 1786; Isaac, born in 1787; Eph- 
raim, born in 1789; Hepsibah, born in 1792; William, 
born in 1795, and Anna, born in 1798. He died 
Sept. 10, 1829, at the age of seventy years. Hepsi- 
bah, his wife, died in 1856 at the advanced age of 
eighty-eight years. 

Solomon Miner, son of Wilham, who was a son of 
Thomas, married Matilda, daughter of Job Moulton, 
and lived where his son John P. now resides. His 
children were, namely : Annie, Martha, Ephraim, 
Alden M., John P., William W., and Isaac. He died 
February 1, 1869, at the age of eighty- three years. 

John P. Miner, son of the above, married Caroline 
Underwood, and remained on the homestead of his 



74 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

father. He is an esteemed citizen, and has held posi- 
tions of trust and responsibility in the town. He was 
born in 1823. 

Alden M. Mixer, brother of the above, married 
Persis Hoskins, and settled on the farm once owned 
by Samuel Cass, where he died in 1893, at the age of 
seventy-nine years. He represented the town in the 
legislature, and was a social and genial friend and 
companion. 

Isaac Mixer, son of William, married Esther, a 
sister of Dea. David Gordon, and remained on the 
homestead of his father. His children were, namely : 
Isaac Denison, Mary Ann, Rebecca, Hepsibah, Ade- 
line, and Thankful. He died in 1850, at the age of 
sixty-three years. His sister, Annie, married Frank 
Belden and lived in Burke, Vt. 

Isaac Dexisox Miner, son of the above, married 
Lucy Kenney, and remained on the homestead of his 
father. He was an active man in town affah's, and a 
prominent member of the Metliodist churcli. He 
met with severe financial losses late in life and moved 
from his farm. He was born August 4, 1828, and died 
in Littleton, N. H., September 28, 1883. 

William Eastmax, who was born April 8, 1743, 
married Abbie Lyle, and settled in Henniker, N. H. 
Among their childi'en was Stephen, who married 
Lydia Ford of Dracot, Mass., and came to Lyman as 
early as 1793, settling near Young's pond on the farm 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 75 

since owned by Jesse W. Richardson. Their children 
were, namely: Parmelia, born in 1796; Clarinda, born 
in 1798; Eber, born in 1800; Elon, born in 1802; 
Stephen A., born in 1803 ; Abigail L., born in 1805 ; 
Saphronia, born in 1808 ; Irrial, born in 1810 ; Dan, 
born in 1811; and Salenda, born in 1814. Mr. East- 
man owned a saw-mill in connection with his farm, 
but late in life moved to the farm now owned by Mr. 
Langway, where he died in 1844, aged seventy-six years. 

Eber Eastman, son of Stephen, married, first, 
Sally Gibson and lived on the first farm west of Tink- 
erville. Their children were : Richard, Dan, Salathiel, 
Adam, Ruth, and Laurette. Mr. Eastman was a man 
of excellent ability, good judgment, and sound sense. 
He took an interest in public matters, and held various 
positions of trust and town office. Mrs. Eastman was 
a woman of superior mental ability. She was also the 
possessor of a contralto voice of fine quality and great 
power, and with the vocal training of today, she would 
have been placed in the front rank of solo singers. 
Mr. Eastman married, second, Mrs. Wheeler, and 
moved to St. Johnsbury, Vt., where he died Septem- 
])er 10, 1871, at the age of seventy-one years. 

Dan Eastman, son of Stephen, married Matilda 
Stickney, lived in town several years, and moved to 
Lancaster, where he died. 

Adam Gibson EastxMan, son of Eber, received his 
education at the common schools and the academy in 



76 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Bradford, Vt. In early life he was a school teacher • 
he also spent some time in the West. He was after- 
wards employed in the railroad shops at St. Johnsbury 
and Lyndonville, Vt., and was an engineer on the 
Passumpsic railroad. He was subsequently engaged 
in railroad building in Canada, and is at present en- 
gaged in mercantile business in Sutton, Que. 

Richard Spofford Eastman, son of Eber, was 
born in Lyman January 16, 1826, and died in 1903 at 
his home in the city of Manchester, N. H. Mr. East- 
man attended the common schools of his native town, 
and was afterwards employed in Littleton, N. H., St. 
Johnsbury and Bradford, Vt.; and South We^-mouth 
and Lawrence, Mass. He married Miss Helen J. 
Bailey of Benton, N. H., who died in 1897. Four 
daughters were born to them, none of whom lived to 
reach adult life. Mr. Eastman was a pattern maker 
by trade, and became a citizen of Manchester about 
1857, where he was employed on the Amoskeag Cor- 
poration, as foreman of a department for many years. 
He was one of the best genera] mechanics in New 
England, and invented many valuable improvements 
in machinery. He was a member of the Universahst 
church, also of the Odd Fellows and Masonic frater- 
nities. He retired from active labor at tlie age of 
seventy, afterwards devoting his attention to the care 
of his private interests. 

John McMillex, son of Daniel, was born in New 
Boston in 1741. Pie moved to Littleton, and came to 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 77 

Lyman with his family before 1800, locating on the 
George Foster place, which he purchased of Solomon 
Parker. He died June 11, 1835. 

Samuel McMillen, son of the above, married 
Nabby, a sister of Dea. David Gordon, and remained 
on the homestead. He had three sons and two 
daughters, namely : Albert, Phineas, Henry, Rachael, 
and Abigail. 

Albert McMilleist, son of Samuel, married Harriet 
Eastman, and lived nearly all his life in town, but 
died in Littleton. His children were : George, John, 
and Cordelia. John died in the war of the Rebellion, 
and Cordeha mamed John Bergin. 

AxNis Merrill was a soldier of the Revolution, 
and was at the battle of Bunker Hill. He settled on 
the first farm north of Timothy Hastings', and among 
his children were, namely : Samuel, Polly, Lydia, 
Susannah, Sally, Moses, Jacob and Priscilla. He died 
in 1847, at the age of ninety-five years. 

Samuel Merrill, son of Annis, remained on the 
homestead of his father. The line between Bath and 
Lyman ran directly through his house, and at one time 
there was some question as to where he should be 
taxed, but he promptly moved his bed across the line 
into the north part of the house, and claimed his resi- 
dence in Lyman, although his barn and cattle were 
taxed in Bath. He died in 1849, at the age of sixty- 
one years. 



78 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Joseph Portee was the progenitor of the Porters 
in Lyman. He was born in England, came to town 
from Randolph, Mass., as early as 1804, and married 
Emma, daughter of Samuel Parker, in 1805. He 
settled on the farm lately owned by E. F. Hoskins, 
and reared a family of three sons and four daughters, 
namely : Irad, Harrison, Osman, Sarah, Thursey, Can- 
dis, and Lucia Kent. He died July 14, 1856, at the 
age of seventy-six years. 

Harrison Porter, son of Joseph, married, first, 
Emily, daughter of Elijah Knapp, and the children 
were : Henry, and Emih\ He mamed, second, Mary, 
daughter of Daniel Knapp, and her children were : 
Moretta, Horace, and Lucia. Harrison Porter was 
one of the foremost citizens of Lyman in point of 
character, ability, and influence. He represented the 
town in the state legislature and took a leading part 
in all the affairs of the town. He was born Se|)t. 15, 
1812, and died in Lancaster, N. H., Sept. 10, 1868. 

OsMAX Porter, brother of the above, married Lucy 
Bailey and lived on Parker Hill. He moved to Can- 
aan, N. H., where he died Feb. 27, 1 878. He was 
born Jan. 23, 1816. 

Capt. Ebexezer Sanborn, father of Mrs. Timothy 
Stevens Jr., came to Bath about 1769, married Lj^dia 
Way, and settled on the Minot farm. He was a 
soldier of the Revolution, and the records of the town 
of Haverhill show that in the year 1798 they paid a 




MRS. IRA OSCAR KNAPP, C. S. D. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 79 

debt of long standing. In that year the town voted 
to pay Capt. Ebenezer Sanborn 110.00 for "fetching 
two hundred pounds of balls, fifty pounds of powder, 
and a quantity of flint from Exiter." He died in Ly- 
man February 13, 1829, at the age of eighty- three 
years and five months. John Sanborn, son of Eben- 
ezer, died in town in 1864, at the age of eighty-three 
years. 

Dk. Lockart Wright. Among the children of 
Dr. Wright, of whom mention is made in another 
part of these sketches, were, namely: Neziah, born in 
1805; Ellis, born in 1807; Hubbard, born in 1809; 
and Abigail, born in 1803. Dr. Wright was born 
October 22, 1771, and died January 31, 1851. 

Samuel Drake came to town at a very early date. 
He owned four acres of land in the corner of the 
Knapp farm, opposite the town house, where he built 
a house and lived with his family. Some of the apple 
trees which he set out are yet remaining, and the spot 
where the house stood can still be found. At that 
time bears being quite numerous, a great bear hunt 
was organized one fall. They drove several of them 
on to the mountain and surrounded tlie locality where 
they were in hiding, — Drake being among the hunters. 
He had shown gi-eat interest in the hunt, and had told 
his neighbors how much bear meat he was going to 
bring home. As they drew near to the game the ex- 
citement became intense, and in some way unknown 



80 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

at the time, Caj^t. Solomon Miner's gun accidentally 
discharged, the ball entering Drake's body, killing him 
instantly. This was a gi-eat shock to the community 
in general, and to the family of Capt. Miner in partic- 
ular. 

Ben.iamin Bailey married Letty Little, mother of 
Theodore Dyke, and came from Manchester, N. H., to 
Lyman about 1795. Mrs. Bailey made the journey on 
the back of a four years old colt and brought her 
baby, Moses, in her arms. He located on the old 
Bailey farm, on the road under the mountain, where 
he died December 5, 1848, at the age of seventy-eight 
years. His children were, namely: Capt. Moses, Elias, 
Benjamin, John, Joseph, Edmond, Milly, Jesse, Nancy, 
and Lydia. 

Capt. Moses Bailey, son of Benjamin, married 
Ruth Chase and remained on the old homestead. His 
children were, namely : Diantha, Langdon, Benjamin, 
Harriet, Ruth, Austin, EthaUnda, and George. He 
died in Bath August 3, 1866, at the age of seventy- 
one years. 

Lieut. Col. John Little was born in London- 
derry, Ireland, and married Lydia Caldwell from the 
same country. He located in Deny, N. H., served in 
the French and Indian war, and came to Lyman about 
the tune of the Revolution. He settled down at the 
four corners, between Parker Hill and Moulton Hill, 
where he owned a large tract of land. Lieut. Col. 



BIOGRAPAICAL SKETCHES. 81 

Little was a cultivated man and a gentleman, and he 
took pains to impart his information to his children, — 
this being all the education they received. His wife 
lived to be over one hundred years of age, and they 
are both buried on Parker Hill. Among his children 
were : James, Joseph, and several daughters. 

James Little, son of Lieut. Col. John, married 
Abigail Amy, and was the first settler on the farm 
north of Charles Woolson's present residence. Among 
his children were, namely : David, Abraham, Col. 
John, Thomas, Joseph, and Lydia. 

Col. John Little, son of James, was born Febru- 
ary 4, 1795. He married Catharine Cobleigh, always 
Hved in town, and reared a large family of children. 
He served in the war of 1812, and was on board the 
flag-ship Saratoga, commanded by Capt. Downie, in 
the battle of Lake Champlain. During his last j^ears 
he was chiefly noted for his skill in framing buildings. 
He died Dec. 24, 1880, at the age of eighty-five j^ears. 

Joseph Little, brother of the above, married and 
settled in town. He died August 7, 1888, aged ninety 
years. Among his children was Ludo B. Little, Capt. 
of Co. A 9th Kegt., in the war of the Rebellion, who 
subsequently studied law and had a brilliant career in 
New York. He died in 1892. 

Joseph Little, son of Lieut. Col. John, married 
Jennett Moore, and was the first settler on the farm 
now occupied by Wesley Miner. Their children were, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



namely: Betsy, who married Lyman Bemis; Letty, 
who married Caleb Gardner of Litchfield, 111.; Lydia, 
who married Jeff ery Clough; Caldwell, who married 
Lydia Steere ; William, who married Maria Stevens ; 
and Sabin, who married Lodisa Smith. Joseph Little 
died in 1854, at the age of seventy-nine years. 

William Little, son of Joseph, remained on the 
old homestead, and reared a large family of children. 
Mrs. Little was a woman of superior mental abiHty, 
and the children were marked by energy and intelli- 
gence. Most of them went West and have achieved 
success in various walks of life. Mr. Little was born 
April 22, 1810, and died September 1, 1887. 

Deacon Russel LTnderwood came to Lyman 
about 1800. He married L-ena Barkley Nov. 13, 1812, 
and located on Parker Hill, on the farm since owned 
by Sidney Thornton. He built the house still standing 
on the premises, and did some carpenter work and 
painting in connection with his farming. His children 
were, namely: Jane, Betsy, Caroline, Laura, Hannah, 
Edmond, and Russel. He was born in Bradford, Vt., 
a member of a large family, and one of his brothers 
was a lawyer in Wells River, Vt. Mr. ITnderwood 
was a man of great piety. He died in St. Johnsbury, 
Vt., in 1871, at the age of eighty- three years. 

Robert Barkley was born in Glasgow, Scotland, 
and came to Lyman when a young man. He married 
Rhoda Way, a daughter of one of the first settlers in 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 83 

Haverhill, and located on Clough Hill, — being the first 
settler on the farm since occupied by James Clough 
Jr. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and during 
the settlement of the town was one of the leading 
men of affairs. He was accidentally killed while build- 
ing a bridge at Lisbon village, Sept. 29, 1804, at the 
age of forty-eight years. His wife died in 1841, at 
the age of eighty-three years. Their children were, 
namely: William, Cyrus, Robert, Irena, Mrs. Willard 
Hoyt, Mrs. McDaniel, and Mrs. James Richardson. 

The Rev. William *Barkley, son of the above, 
was born in Lyman, and married, first, Sarah Morrill, 
and located on the farm since owned by Luther Hos- 
kins. Among their children were, namely : William, 
Mrs. William Palmer, John, Horace, Mrs. John Bis- 
hop, Mrs. Sarah Brown, Samuel, and Mrs. Benjamin 
Page. Mr. Berkley moved to Littleton about 1817, 
but returned to Lyman and resided for several years 
on the LTnderwood place. His wife, Sarah, died in 
1857, at the age of sixty-eight years. He married, 
second, Elvira Bidwell who died in 18(56, aged fifty- 
six ;/ears. Mr. Berkley was a deeply religious man 
and respected by all who knew him. He died in 
Lisbon Feb. 21, 18G9, at the age of eighty-six years. 

Samuel Way was one of the early settlers of the 
town, and lived on Moulton Hill. He died April 18, 



* The younger members of this family changed the spelling of their 
name to Berkley. 



84 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

1822, at the age of sixty-one years. His son, Amos, 
located on the farm now occupied by Francis Little, 
near the Pettyborough brook. His children were : 
Laura, Samuel, Spofford, and Lydia. 




MUSKS W ALKEli. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 85 



CHAPTER V. 

LATER SETTLERS. 

WALKER— COREY— THORNTON— MOOBE — SHERMAN — GORDON— ASH- 
EASTMAN— GOULD— CASS— GIBSON— YOUNG— MASOK—HOSKINS — HUBD— 
PATRIDGE— KENT— SMITH— GARLAND — ESTERBROOK — LYNDE — BASS— 
PRESBY — BARTLETT — HASTINGS — GILMAN — FOSTER — DOW — DYKE— 
LOCKE— TITUS— PARKER— FORD-CHASE— STEVENS — BEDELL — SWAN— 
WHEELOCK— MARTIN— WILLIAMS— STICKNEY—MCALPEN. 

Elijah Walker married Abigail Hill and located 
in Roj^alston, Mass. Their children were, namely: 
James, Jabez, Jonah, Moses, Calvin, Williard, Rhoda, 
and Hannah. 

Moses Walker was born in Royalston Marcli 1, 
1792. He married Sophia, daughter of David Fisher 
and Sophia Thayer, and came to Lyman in 1816, pm-- 
chasing the farm now owned by Eliphalet Mason, then 
owned by Ephraim Miner. He had born to him five 
daughters, namely : Sophia P., Harriet, Harriet (sec- 
ond), Lucy M., and Louisa Minerva. In 1846 he sold 
his farm and moved to Tinkerville, where he remained 
one year, and bought the Kent farm in 1847, His 
wife, who was always a feeble woman, died in 1850. 
He subsequently married Mrs. Mariah Stoddard, and 
moved to Waterford, Vt., in 1860, where he lived 
sixteen years. He returned to Lyman in 1875, and 



86 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

spent the last years of his Ufe with his daughter, Mrs. 
Luther B. Hoskins, and died June 14, 1880. Coming 
to town in 1816, which was called the "cold season," 
he told the writer that during the first year he lived 
pretty short, but after that the family had plenty to 
eat. He always took an interest in public affairs, and 
held many offices of trust. He was a great reader, a 
man of industry" and intelligence, high character, and 
much esteemed by his fellow-townsmen. Politically 
a Republican, religiously a member of the Universalist 
church. 

Jabez, brother of the above, came to town a few 
years earlier, and lived for some time on the *farm 
now occupied by Osman P. Titus, where he reared a 
family of four children, namely : Abigail, Hannah, 
Jane, and Henry. He moved to Peacham, Yt., late 
in life where he lived and died with his son Henry. 

Calvix Walker, brother of the above, married 
Phebe Thurston, came to Lyman, and lived for a time 
on the first place west of the Hurd fami, also on the 
Jacob Williams farm, afterwards moved to Wolcott, 
Vt., where he died. His son Hiram resides, at present, 
in Denver, Colorado. 

Oliver Corey married Betsy, a sister of Dea. David 
Gordon, and lived on the place now owned by Charles 



*This farm was owned at that time by Samuel and James Hutchins, 
who were merchants in Bath upper village. They had sold Lemuel 
Parker goods till he had become so involved that his farm passed into 
their possession. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 87 

Woolson, as early as 1807. He reared a family of 
four sons and four daughters, namely: Eliza, born in 
1808; Saphronia, born in 1810; James, born in 1812; 
William, born in 1814; Jane, born in 1816; Dorcas, 
born in 1818 ; Jonathan, born in 1822 ; and Ira, born 
in 1824. Mr. Corey died in 1872, aged ninety years. 

Joshua Thorntox was a descendant of Matthew 
Thornton, one of the signers of the Declaration of 
Independence from New Hampshire. He was a fifer 
in the war of the Revolution which he entered at the 
age of fourteen years, and was with Gen. Washing- 
ton at Valley Forge. He married Hannah George 
and came from Plymouth to Lyman about 1800, 
locating on the farm lately occupied by D. C. Parker. 
He was born in Uxbridge, Mass., Nov. 1, 1764, and 
died July 27, 1843. He was a man of education and 
ability, and a leader in his day. He was selectman, 
town clerk, represented the town in the state legisla- 
ture, and was justice of the peace for many years. 
His children were, namely : Adna, William, Stella, 
and Polly. Polly married Benjamin Clark. 

Adxa Thorxtox married Betsy, daughter of Jona- 
than Moulton, and built a house on the farm since 
owned by William Webster, taking the land from his 
father's farm. They reared a family of six children, 
namely : Sidney, William, Reuben, Hannah, Martha, 
and Sarah. Adna Thornton died in 1842, at the age 
of fiftv-one vears. 



55 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

William Thorntox, son of Joshua, married Betsy 
Bishop and located in town. They had three daugh- 
ters. 

Sidney Thorxtox, son of Adna, married Ellen 
Francisco, and has always resided in town with the 
exception of five years which he spent in California. 
William, son of Adna, died in Rhome, Georgia. 

Thomas Moore came from Bedford, N. H., to Jjj- 
man about 1815, and married Octavia Web, daughter 
of Col. Azariali Web, Aug. 29, 1816. Their children 
were, namely : Azariah, James T., Delancy, Lucy, 
Maria, Greenlief, Francillion, Nanc}^, and Burnis. Mr. 
Moore died July 30, 1866, at the age of seventy-three 
years and tliree months. 

James T. Moore, who was a son of Thomas, mar- 
ried Martha Thornton, and remained on the old home- 
stead of his father. He spent the greater part of his 
life in town and died in Lisbon October 1, 1899, at 
the age of eighty years and one month. 

Col. Azariah Moore, son of Thomas, married 
Harriet Gordon, and spent much of his early life in 
town, afterwards lived in the White Mountains at the 
famous Willey House, later in Lisbon and California, 
and died in Whitefield in 1898, at the age of eiglity 
years. He had one son, John, who recently died in 
Whitefield. 

CoL. Azariah Wer was a soldier of the Rca^oIu- 
tion and commanded a regiment. He lived in Ly- 
man, but died and was buried in Guildhall, Vt. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 89 

Benjamin Sherman, one of the early settlers of 
Lyman, located in the south-eastern part of the town 
before 1800, where he employed himself with farming 
and blacksraithing. His son, Smith, was born in Ly- 
man in 1805, and lived here mitil 1848, when he 
moved to Lisbon, where he died in 1867. He was a 
farmer, married three times and reared a large family 
of children. One of his sons, J. F. Sherman, still re- 
sides in town. He represented the town in 1881, has 
been selectman and held various other positions of 
trust and responsibility. 

Andrew Gordon, son of Jonathan Gordon, was 
born in Bath and came to Lyman when a boy and 
lived with John Kent. He subsequently lived with 
his uncle, Dea. David Gordon, and married Harriet, 
daughter of Ezra Smith. He had three sons and two 
daughters, namely: Jonathan, Isaac, Ransome, Har- 
riet, and Jennie. He married for his second wife, 
Abigail, daughter of Samuel Millen. He died June 
30, 1893, at the age of ninety-three years and ten 
months. 

Jonathan Gordon, brother of Andrew, married 
Sarah Ann Howe, and lived in various parts of the 
town. He died in 1881, aged seventy-nine years. 

William Gordon, son of the above, married Nancy 
Little, had three children and died in town in 1890, 
at the age of fifty-six years. 

David Ash came to Lisbon from England, and was 
one of the first settlers of that town. His son Phineas 



90 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

married Hannah Cowen, a sister of Rev. Charles 
Cowen, and came to Lyman about 1816 and cleared 
up his farm near Young's pond. Among his children 
were, namely : Hulda, Hannah, Sallie, Sabin, Phineas, 
William, and Zachariah. He died in 1868, at the age 
of seventy-three years. His wife Hannah Cowen died 
in 1883, at the age of eighty-five years. 

Jonathan Eastman was born in Littleton, one of 
a family of eleven children, and a son of William 
Eastman. He came to Lyman at an early date and 
married Roxanna, daughter of David Gordon. "Aunt 
Roxy" was noted chiefly for her skill in treating the 
sick with roots and herbs. Mr. Eastman lived on the 
Gordon place most of his life, but died in Littleton 
Nov. 6, 1869, at the ago of eighty-three years. His 
wife Roxanna died in 1875, at the age of eighty-four 
years. Their children were, namely : David, Hiram, 
Harriet, Lucinda, and Saviah. 

David G. Eastman, son of Jonathan, lived and 
died on the old homestead. He was a man of intelli- 
gence, with a good business capacity, and held various 
positions of trust in the town. He was born in 1815, 
and died in April, 1881. Saviah married Nathan 
Whitcomb and resided in town, 

Searle Eastman, who was a son of James, was 
born in Bath. He married, first, Rebecca Bailey, and 
lived in Haverhill several years, but caine to Lyman 
in 1846, locating on Moulton Hill. Pie married, sec- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 91 

ond, Sally Moulton, and reared a family of seven 
children, namely : Orrin, Joel, Persis, Lurancy, Hulda, 
Priscilla, and Augusta. He died in 1870, at the age 
of eighty-one years. He was a good citizen, and a 
man of high standing among his friends. 

Major Caleb Gould was born on Briar Hill in the 
town of Haverhill, N. H., in 1790. He married Hep- 
sibah, daughter of William Miner, and located in Lis- 
bon, on the place now owned by Harry Hastings. He 
afterwards lived in Newbury, Yt., for a short time, and 
moved to Lyman in 1827, locating on the farm recent- 
ly occupied by J. F. Sherman. His children were, 
namel}^: Laura Jane, born in 1817, died in 1865; 
Samuel Newell, born in 1822, died in 1895; William 
Denison, born in 1824; and Solon Southard, born in 
1825, died in 1898. Mr. Gould was a man of high 
character and social position, and above the average 
of his townsmen in intelligence and knowledge. He 
held the rank of Major in the state militia, was a good 
bass singer, and commanded respect and influence by 
his worth and ability. He died in Concord, Yt., June 
2, 1862. Mrs. Gould died in 1880, at the advanced 
age of eighty-eiglit years. 

Samuel Cass lived in the early history of the town 
on the farm now owned by David H. Miner. He 
married Hepsibah Parker, daughter of Lemuel Parker, 
May 17, 1804, and had six sons and seven daughters. 
He said he had no money to give his sons, but was 



92 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

going to give them all a good name; hence we find in 
his family : George Washington, Andrev/ Jackson, 
James Monroe, James Sullivan, John Quincy Adams, 
and Moses Edson. Late in Ufe Mr. Cass moved to the 
place now occupied by Merrit Moulton, where he died 
April 3, 1843, at the age of sixty-three years and three 
months. 

Samuel Gibson married Bets}^ Stuart and lived 
in Francistown, N. H. Their cliildren were, namely : 
Samuel, John, Anna, Gabriel, Martha, Jane, Betsy, 
Robert, Adam, and William. The Gibsons and 
Stuarts were Scotch, driven from Scotland to the 
north of Ireland. 

Adam Gibson who was a son of Samuel, came to 
Lyman about 1801. He married Mary Moore, a sister 
of Thomas Moore, and located on the place afterwards 
owned by Leonard Parker. He had born to him six 
children, namely: Sallie, Margaret, Jane, Nelson, 
Adam, and Samuel. He married, second, Mrs. 
Stevens, mother of William Dee Stevens, and built 
the house since owned by Merrit Moulton, where he 
died Ma}^ 1^7, 1854, at the age of eighty-one years. 

Samuel Gibson, son of Adam, who was a son of 
Samuel Sen., married Mercy Hoskins and lived in 
towm. Among their children are Mrs. J. E. Weller, a 
prominent Christian Scientist of Boston, Mrs. R. D. 
Rounsevel of Littleton, and the late Mrs. Edwun 
Nelson. 




SAMUEL HOSKINS, M. D. 



BIOGRAPIHCAL SKETCHES. 93 

Nelson Gibson, brother of the above, died in town, 
and his sister Jane married Arnold Buffura and died 
in CaHfornia. 

William Gibson, son of Samuel Sen., in early 
times lived on the road under the mountain on the 
place afterwards owned, for a short time, by Dr. Sam- 
uel Hoskins. He had one daughter who was receiving 
attentions from a young man named Moore, a medical 
student. He went to visit her one evening, and the 
next morning her parents found her dead in the room. 
The young man had fled and was never again heard 
from. This mystery was never explained. The 
Gibsons of Lyman were sturdy, mentally and physic- 
ally, frugal, industrious and honest. 

John Young came from Lisbon to Lyman about 
1812, and located near Young's pond, on the farm 
since owned by Jesse Richardson. He married Miss 
Pamelia, a daughter of Stephen Eastman, and reared 
a large family of children, among whom were: 
Bracket, John, and four daughters. He died in 1861, 
aged seventy years. Young's pond derived its name 
from this family. 

Eliphalet Mason moved to Bath from Greenland, 
N. H., about ]822, and in 1826 came to Lyman, loca- 
ting in the northern part of the town. He died in 
1855. Three of his sons, Joshua, Shubael S., and 
John, located in town. 



94 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Joshua Mason married Lydia Gariand. He died 
in 1873. One of his children, Eliphalet, still resides 
in town. 

Shubael Mason married Harriet Stoddard. He 
died in 1891, at the age of eighty-three years. 

John Mason married Matilda Farrington. He was 
a man of abihty, served the town in various offices, 
and died in 1889, at the age of seventy- two years. 

Samuel Hoskins, M. D., a son of Eli Hoskins and 
Rhoda Drake, was born in Grafton, N. H., January 22, 
1795. He received his education in the common 
schools of his native town, and the academy at Salis- 
bury, He was for a time a pupil of the Rev. Dr. 
Rolfe, and later took his degree in medicine at Dart- 
mouth College. He l)ecame a citizen of Lyman, and 
commenced the practice of medicine there, in April, 
1817. July 16, 1818, he married Miss Harriet Byron 
Gushing, a lady of much refinement and cultivation, a 
native of Salisbury, N. H. During the first few years 
of his residence in town, he made his abode at the 
home of Dea. David Gordon, and his two oldest chil- 
dren, J. C. C. and WilUam, were born there. He then 
purchased the farm, now owned by J. F. Olin, on 
Parker Hill, where he lived the greater part of his 
residence in town. He spent one year in Mahie, re- 
turned to town and lived for a short time on the farm 
nearly opposite the Capt. Bailey farm ; from there he 
moved to the place now occupied by A. J. Astle. Pie 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 95 

remained here until the spring of 1861, when he 
moved to Bradford, Vt. He died in Chelsea, Mass., 
January 12, 1873. His wife survived him nine years, 
dying at the home of her son, J. D. Hoskins, in Sioux 
City, Iowa, and was , buried beside her husband in 
Woodlawn cemetery, in Chelsea, Mass. Dr. Hoskins 
had received a classical education which developed 
and quickened his naturally strong mind, placing him 
intellectually far in advance of the people of his time. 
He was a man of strong intellect, and his contact with 
the best and most intelligent men of the times was 
large and frequent. He was a benefit and help to the 
new town in many ways. Through his efforts the 
first post office in Lyman was established, during the 
administration of Andrew Jackson in 1833. He was 
appointed the first post master; and the office for a 
time was kept in his house. He was among the early 
believers and supporters of the Universalist faith. 
Politically he was a Whig, becoming later a Republi- 
can. His parents passed their last years in his home. 
His father was a soldier of the Revolution, and died 
in 1846, at the age of eighty-seven ^^ears. His mother 
died in 1857, aged eighty-nine years. The children of 
Dr. Samuel Hoskins were : John Church Cushing, 
Lois, William, Samuel W., Mary, J. Darwin, Allen, 
and Harriet, — none of whom remained in town. 

J. C. C. Hoskins, son of Samuel, graduated from 
Dartmouth College in 1841, after which he taught 



96 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

school and practiced surveying for several years; at 
length locating in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1857, where he 
now resides. 

James Darwin Hoskins, fourth son of Dr. Samuel 
Hoskins, was born in Lyman Oct. 9, 1830. He re- 
ceived his education in the common schools, and 
worked on the home farm until he was twentj^-one 
years of age, with the exception of the year 1848, 
when he was employed in a subordinate position in 
the engineer corps on the Boston water works. In 
the fall of 1851 he went to California. Returning in the 
faU of 1853, he was married Feb. 28, 1854, to Emma 
Portland Woodley Powers, an adopted daugliter of 
Pliny Bartlett. In the summer of 1854 tliey removed 
to tlie then Territory of Minnesota, and endured the 
hardships attendant on the opening up of that great 
state, settling on government land whicli is now a part 
of the beautiful city of Northfield. Mr. Hoskins took 
an active part in organizing the Republican party in 
the Territory, and in forming the laws of the new state, 
serving his fellow citizens faithfully in various elective 
offices. He removed to Iowa in 1866, where he re- 
mained for about thirty years, and then returned to 
California, where he has since resided. Mrs. Hoskins 
died suddenly in Los Angeles, June 26, 1900. She 
was was a true helpmeet, and much beloved by all her 
friends. Mr. Hoskins has traveled much in his own 
country, and in foreign lands, but always retains his 



♦ m 




JAMES DARWIX HOSKINS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 97 

great love for his native town and the friends of his 
youth ; and though living so far away has visited them 
every few years to enjoy the companionship of his 
early friends, and the beautiful scenery of his native 
town. He has been much interested in the collection 
of these sketches, and aided and assisted in their pub- 
lication. 

Elkanah Hoskins, son of Nehemiah, came from 
Petersham, Mass., to Littleton, N. H., May 22, 1798. 
He reared a family of twelve children, and died in 
1805. His son, Lj^man, married Rachel, daughter of 
John Millen, and became a citizen of Lyman in 1809, 
locating on the farm since occupied by George Foster. 
His children were, namely: Lyman, Mindwell, Will- 
iam, Fidellia, John, Solomon, Icebenda, and Nehemiah, 
He died in 1872, at the age of eighty-eight years. 

David Hoskins, son of Elkanah, married Persis 
Stanford and moved from Littleton to Lyman about 
1835, and settled on the Hutchins farm on Parker 
Hill. His children were: Albert, Rosanna, Sulvender, 
Persis, David, Sliepard, and Syrena. He died July 
2(3, 1859, at the age of eighty-one years. 

Luther Hoskins, brother of the above, exchanged 
farms with Elder William Barklej^, and became a 
citizen of Lyman in 1817. He married Hannah 
Crooks, March 14, 1809, and his children were: Phila, 
Olive, Mercy, Luther B., and Hannah. He was a 
man of good natural abilities, but limited in his literary 



98 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

attainments, having been deprived in his youth of the 
ordinary educational advantages of the times. He 
was born March 23, 1782, and died October 31, 1879. 

David Hoskins Jr., married Angehne Knapp, and 
in company with his brother Sulvender remained on 
the okl homestead. David died March 28, 1864, at 
the age of forty-five years. Sulvender died in 1895, 
at the age of eighty- four years. 

Hox. Luther B. Hoskins, son of Luther, was born 
in Lyman, Feb. 16, 1822, and received his education 
in the common schools, and at the academies in Lan- 
caster, N. H. and Peacham, Vt. He married Lucy 
Walker and remained on the homestead of his father. 
He held various town offices, represented the town in 
the state legislature, was a member of Governor Smyth's 
council, was on the staff of Governor Onslow Stearns, 
and was treasurer of the county. He also served on 
the State Board of Agriculture, but later devoted much 
attention to probate matters, having settled nearly one 
hundred estates. He resides at present in Lisbon, 
N. H. 

Albert Hoskins, son of David, married Laura, 
daughter of Caleb Gould. They resided in Lyman a 
short time, but spent most of their married life in St. 
Johnsbury, Vt. He died in 1891, at the age of eighty- 
one years. 

Lyman Hoskins Jr., married Bethany Bartlett and 
resided in town. He died in 1889, at the age of 
eighty-two years. 



BIOGRAPAICAL SKETCHES. 99 

Timothy B. Huhd, son of Jacob, who was a son of 
Col. John Hurd, was born in Bath in 1797, and became 
a citizen of Lyman about 1827. He was a cloth- 
dresser by trade, and located at the head of Young's 
pond where he carried on his business for many years. 
He subsequently bought the Patridge farm where he 
died in 1884. His wife was Eliza Patridge, daughter 
of Nathaniel Patridge. Their children were, namely : 
William B., Eliza, and Persis. William B. married, 
first, Harriet Kennerson of Peacham, Vt., and mar- 
ried, second. Miss Julia Jackson of Littleton. Persis 
married Warren Mclntire, and Ehza married Russell 
Underwood. 

Nathaniel Patridge came to Lyman from Goffs- 
town, N. H., about 1803, and cleared the farm now 
owned by William B. Hurd. The name of Patridge 
pond came from this family. He reared a family of 
five children, among whom were : Mrs. Caroline Pike 
of Manchester, Ira G., who occupied the homestead, 
where he died in 1843. The other members of this 
family were, namely : Persis, Ora, and Mrs. Timothy 
B. Hurd. Mr. Patridge died in town May 29, 1844, 
at the age of seventy-six years. 

John Kent, son of Col. Jacob, came to Lyman 
about 1803, married Tabitha Peabody Nov. 15, 1804, 
and located on the farm now occupied by Charles 
Elms. Their children were, namely : Richard Pea- 
body, born in 1805 ; John Childs, born in 1808 ; Har- 



100 BIOGRAPIHCAL SKETCHES. 

riet, bom in 1811 ; Adriel, born in 1813 ; Lucia, born 
in 1815 ; and Nelson, born in 1818. Mr. Kent was a 
man of aristocratic and select tastes, and belonged, in 
his social habits, to the aristocracy of his day. Mrs. 
Kent was a woman of high character and great refine- 
ment. Mr. Kent died in town July 4, 1842, at the 
age of seventy years. Mrs. Kent died in 1836 at the 
age of sixty-one years. 

Reuben Smith lived in Chesterfield, N. H., and 
had four children, namely : Ezra, born in 1784; Lo- 
dicia, born in 1786 ; and twins, Perley and Carley, 
born in 1793. This family came to Lyman about 
1822. Perley married Abigail Ealy, located in Tink- 
erville and reared a family of seven children, namely : 
Samuel, born in 1815 ; Juliann, born in 1818 ; Julius, 
born in 1821 ; Horace, born in 1823; Amos, born in 
1827 ; Caroline, born in 1831 ; and Isaac, born in 
1833. Perley Smith died Oct. 24, 1881. 

Julius S^iith, son of Perlej^, married Persis Parker 
and reared a family of thirteen children. He died on 
the old homestead May 23, 1895, at the age of seven- 
ty-four years. 

Amos Smith, son of Perley, was never married and 
always lived in town. He was a tailor by trade, and 
an excellent man in caring for the sick. He died Feb- 
ruary 16, 1885. 

Ezra Smith, son of Reuben, married, remained in 
town and reared a large family of children. He was 



BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES. 101 

noted cliiefiy as a fiddler, and was in great demand for 
local entertainments and dances. Among his children 
were, namely : Ezra, Chauncy, Ransome, Parker, 01- 
cott, Patty, Harriet, Amy, Ladora. and Lodicia. 

Smith Brothers. — In this family were five sons 
and three daughters, namely : Reuben, Samuel, Steph- 
en, Ethan, Nathan, Mrs. Bailey Clough, Mrs. Enoch 
Clough, and Mrs. John Moulton. All information in 
regard to the father of this family is lost. The mother 
and children were in Lyman before 1800. The chil- 
dren were put out into different families in town, and 
Reuben was taken into the family of William Miner. 
After the children reached adult life and had homes 
of their own, the mother lived with them. Reuben 
married Lydia Hall and settled on the mxountain above 
Moulton Hill. Among his children were, namely : 
Abram, Isaac, Job, Alpheus, and Assenath. He died 
August 28, 1868, at the age of seventy-eight years. 
Samuel married Mehitable Knapp, a sister of Elijah, 
and among his children were, namel}^ : Abial, Edson, 
Stephen, Elijah, Dorcas, Amanda, and Jesse. Stephen 
was the father of Mrs. Milly Eastman and John Smith. 
He died in 1851 at the age of sixty-three years. Ethan 
lived on the Heath road, and was the father of Adna. 

Abial Smith, son of Samuel, married Mary Hunt- 
ley and resided in town. He died May 28, 1896, 
aged eighty-four years and seven months. 

Abram H. Smith, son of Reuben, was born May 
9, 1818. He married first, Ellen Moulton, and married. 



102 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

second, Matilda Hall. He lived on Moulton Hill, and 
reared a Tamily of eighteen children. He died Aug. 
13, 1903. 

Jacob Garland was born in Sanbornton, N. H. 
He moved to Bath, where he married Rosilla Amy in 
1824, and came to Lyman about 1830. The children 
were, namely: George, Holland, Howard, Charles, 
Nancy, Ruth, and Sophia. He lived at one time on 
the top of the Gardner's Mountain, where he cleared 
up a farm, built a log house, and raised good crops for 
several years. The cellar and orchard can now be 
seen. Howard and Charles went to California, where 
they remained. Holland married Annette Presby, 
and resides in Lisbon. Jacob Garland died in 1884 
aged ninety-two years. 

Abrajsi Hall married Sarah Floyd and came to 
Lyman from Lunenburg, Vt., at an early date, settling 
on the farm where the Dodge gold mine is located. 
Here he resided until his death in 1855, at the age of 
fifty-six years. One of his sons Abram Jr. married 
Mary Dow and remaind on tlie home place, but later 
moved to Lisbon, where he kept a hotel. His children 
were, namely : Riley, Cyrus, Charles, Harry, Laura, 
Caroline, and Jane. 

"Joseph Esterbrook and Miss Susanna Merrill 
both of Lyman, married July 6, 1814." 

The above record is found on the town books, but 
very little can now be learned about this family. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 103 

They lived in Lyman and moved to Michigan, about 
1820. Their home was in the south part of the town 
near the Bath line. One of the sons was for many 
years State Superintendent of Education in the state 
of Michigan, and another one was a member of Con- 
gress from Nebraska. This evidently was a family 
endowed with superior ability, and it is very much to 
be regi-etted that so little can be known about it, but 
none of the people now living in this vicinity are able 
to remember it. 

Joseph Lynde came from Lisbon about 1810, loca- 
ting near Young's pond. His children were, namely: 
one son, William; and two daughters. He died in 
1851, at the age of seventy- two years. William mar- 
ried Mary Cram and remained on the old homestead. 
One daughter married Robert Yiolet. 

Capt. Warren Bass was born in Lester, Mass. 
He married Naomi Hall, and became a citizen of Ly- 
man as early as 1812. His children were, namely : 
Eliza Ann, Marietta, Emeline, Naomi, Warren, Bil- 
lings Hobart, Fayette, and Publicus Cornelius. Mr. 
Bass died in Bath. 

Presbyes, — Elijah, Elisha, Samuel and Biathy 
four brothers, came from the lower part of New Hamp- 
shire and settled in Lyman before 1800. Elijah mar- 
ried Hannah Parker, a daughter of Solomon Parker 
Jr., and located on the place since occupied by Solo- 
mon W. Presby. Among his children were, namely: 



104 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Solomon W., Wendell, Elijah, Warren, and four 
daughters. He died in 1825. Elisha moved to Lis- 
bon where he owned a tannery and shoe business, by 
which he became a man of means. Samuel married 
and located near Cowen's pond. Among his children 
were, namely : HoUis, Samuel, Hiram, Henry, Leroy, 
and Eunice. Biathy married and lived in various 
parts of the town and reared a large family of chil- 
dren. 

Solomon W. Peesby, who was a son of Elijah, 
married Ruby Dexter and remained on the old home- 
stead. He was born March 30, 1802, and died March 
31, 1886. 

Pliny Baetlett, son of Matthew, was ])orn in 
Richmond, N. H. He married, first, Stella Thornton, 
and second, Mrs. Lucinda Titus. He came to Lyman 
about 1830 and built the house, where he afterwards 
lived, in 1841. He was a great reader, and a man of 
superior intellect, represented the town in the state 
legislature, and took an active interest in public affairs. 
He died in Lyman November 25, 1883, at the age of 
eighty-three years. His brother, Pizaro, wlio always 
lived with him, died in 1882, at the age of seventy-six 
years. 

Lebina Hastings was born in Chesterfield, N. H., 
and became a citizen of the town at a very early date. 
He lived in various parts of the town and died in 1831, 
at the age of forty-three years. His children were, 




LEBBEUS HASTINGS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 105 

namely : Lebbeus, Larkin, Willard, Bele, Esther Ann, 
and Everline, 

Leubeus Hastings, son of Lebina, married Mar- 
riam, daughter of €apt. J oKn Barber, Oct. 21, 1829, 
and remained on the Barber homestead, caring for the 
old people through life. Mr. Hastings' children, 
Thadeus and Laura, were born there. He was a man 
of energy, and good business ability. For many years 
he bought sheep and cattle for market, going to Boston 
each week. He was selectman, town clerk, and held 
many other positions of responsibility. He was a 
strong Democrat, and very much given to argument, 
especially on political topics. He died in town April 
4, 1874, at the age of sixty-five years. Mrs. Hastings 
died in 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years, three 
months and twenty-six days. 

Ephraim Gilman was a son of Jacob Gilman, and 
was born in town March 7, 1806. He married Lucinda 
Waters, and lived in different parts of the town. 
Their children were, namely : Loveren, Ezra, Herod, 
George, and Ann. Loveren, George, and Herod died 
in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Gilman died in 1884, 

Ezra Foster, a Revolutionary soldier, settled in 
Littleton soon after the war, locating near Lyman. 
He was past ninety years of age when his death oc- 
curred. His children were, namely : George, Isaac, 
Henry, John, Joseph, Mary, Lois, Nancy, and Ezra. 
George worked on the river in early times, running 



106 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

logs and timber rafts from Haverhill to Hartford ; also 
worked on a farm for several years for Jal)ez Walker. 
He married Phila Hoskins and settled on the Lyman 
Hoskins farm. He had two sons, Charles and John L. 
He was born May 13, 1806, and died Jan. 7, 1884. 

JoHx L. Foster was born Sept. 15, 1837. He 
fitted for college at Peacham academj^ entered Dart- 
mouth college and graduated in 1864. For a time he 
was paymaster's clerk in South Carolina. He after- 
wards studied law with Judges Morrison and Stanley 
of Manchester, N. H.; and after practicing for one year 
in Boston, moved to Littleton, N. H., where he prac- 
ticed his profession for several years. During his stay 
there, he was chosen pohce judge, and held various 
offices of trust and honor. He married Augusta 
Stevens of Haverhill and moved to Lisbon in 1879, 
where he enjoyed a lucrative practice until his death, 
January 17, 1890. 

Asa Dow was born in Bath. He married Betsy, 
daughter of John Moulton, and came to Lyman about 
1820, locating near Young's pond, on the farm now 
occupied by Albert Dow. Among liis children were, 
namely : Asa, Web, Robert, Catharine, Hannah, Mrs. 
James Whipple, and Mrs. Henry Presbye. He died 
in Lyman. 

Theodore Dyke was a son of Letty, daughter of 
Lieut. Col. John Little. He married Betsy Miller and 
located on tlie farm now owned by Shepard Parker, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 107 

where he erected the buildings, cleared the land, and 
became a man of means. His children were, namely : 
Theodore, Arthur, Chastina, Caroline, Emerenza, 
Corris Ann, and Jerusia. Mr. Dyke was a strong man 
physically; honest, industrious, and respected by all 
who knew him. He died September 5, 1862, at the 
age of seventy-two years, 

Theodore Dyke Jr., married Corrisa Briggs, and 
has resided in town. 

David Locke, son of Simeon Locke and Abigail 
Blake, was born Oct. 19, 1788, in Epsom, N. H., and 
was the fifth in descent from John Locke, who was 
killed by the Indians in Rye, N. H., in 1696. When 
a boy he lived, for some time, with an uncle at 
Rye. He married Florinda Locke, Oct. 17, 1810, and 
soon moved to Lyman, locating upon the farm where 
Lyman M. now lives. There was a log house on the 
place when he brought his bride to Lyman, and this 
they occupied until 1820, when he built the rear of the 
present house. The front was added in 1848. His 
children were, namely : Joseph, born Feb. 29, 1812; 
Jonathan, born May 11, 1814; Mary Ann, born March 
29, 1816; Elbridge, born March 24, 1818 ; Florenda, 
born April 21, 1820 ; Simeon Lovering, born Sept. 6, 
1822; David M., born Sept. 1, 1824; Silas M., born 
Aug. 16, 1826; Alice, born Nov. 13, 1828; Josiah 
Hannibal, born June 7, 1831 ; and Abigail, born Sept. 
15, 1834. Mr. Locke was an esteemed citizen of the 



108 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

town, and died March 19, 1863, at the age of seventy- 
four years. 

Simeon L. Locke, son of David, married Harriet 
Bailey, and remained on the home farm of his father. 
His family contained four sons and two daughters. 
He died December 30, 1879, at the age of fifty-seven 
years. 

Silas M. Locke, son of David, attended the school 
on Moulton Hill, until nineteen years of age, when he 
commenced work at the lumber business for Capt. 
James Sumner of Dalton. On December 8, 1848, he 
left New Hampshire and sailed from Boston January 
27, 1849, for CaUfornia by way of Cape Horn. After 
a stormy passage lasting six months, he arrived in San 
Francisco July 23, 1849. His brother David M., had 
arrived a few weeks previously by way of Panama, 
and together they engaged in mining. Mr. Locke 
subsequently worked at building mills, and finally 
bought two yoke of oxen and engaged in the trucking 
business, where he averaged to make fifty dollars a 
day. In September, 1850, he engaged in the water 
supply business in San Francisco, — at which work he 
continued until 1855. This was the only system of 
water supply at that time, the water ])eing delivered 
in carts, and proved a very lucrative employment. In 
1855 he went into the real estate and building busi- 
ness, which he continued to the time of his death. He 
became a member of the Vigilance Committee of 1856, 




SILAS M. LOCKE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 109 

and assisted at the execution of several criminals. He 
was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, and 
acted under every Chief Engineer up to the incumbent 
of 1902, and also a member of the Society of Califor- 
nia Pioneers. He was married July 22, 1857, to 
Sabrina, daughter of Barron Moulton, who died in 
San Francisco, May 4, 1896, leaving a daughter, 
Fanny P., who married Mr. D. L. Farnsworth in 1864. 
Mr. Farnsworth died Aug. 28, 1900, leaving a widow, 
son, and daughter, who still reside in San Francisco. 
Mr. Locke returned to Lyman several times, visiting 
the scenes and friends of his early life, and showed 
much loyalty to his native town. He was a self-made 
man in the highest sense, and from his labors of over 
half a century, wealth came to him beyond the dreams 
of his youth. He died in San Francisco, after a brief 
illness, Jan. 25, 1903. David M. Locke, owns a 
dairy farm of about fifteen hundred acres in Scott's 
Valley, supporting about two liundred cows. Josiah 
H. Locke, the seventh son, also owns a large dairy 
farm at Half Moon Bay, with about one hundred and 
sixty cows. Their sister Alice, who Vv^as the wife of 
Judge Rix, is a widow and resides at Alameda, 
and has four daughters and one son. Florenda (Mrs- 
Walker), and Abigail (Mrs. Butler), both reside in 
Windsor, Vt. 

Samuel Titus moved to Bath from Rhode Island 
about 1765, and settled on the Harris farm. About 



110 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

1782 he moved to Laiidaff, where he held many offices 
of trust. He came to Lyman in ] 806, where he reared 
a family of eight children, namely : Eleazer, Samuel, 
John, Luther, Calvin, Mary, and two others. He died 
in 1818, at the age of eighty- five years. 

Calvin Titus, son of Samuel, was born May 22, 
1777, and died January 15, 1819. He lived for many 
years on the farm once owned by Dr. Samuel Hoskins 
on the road under the mountain. He had born to 
him six sons and two daughters, namely: Calvin Jr., / 
Rufus, Lucy, Moses, Phineas, Reuben, Ira, and Betsy. 
Moses died in 1899, at the age of ninet3"-one years. 

Capt. Calvix Titus Jr. was born in Lyman, hi 
1802, and died March 22, 1888. He married Sarah 
Porter, first, and had born to him six sons and two 
daughters, namely: Henry, Solon, Frank, Ira, Osman 
Jose})h, Emily, and Annette. He married, second, 
Rebecca Miner. The children of this marriage were 
Ellen and Sadie. Mr. Titus took an active part in 
town affairs and served as selectman, constable, and 
collector of taxes. 

Osman P. Titus, son of Calvin Jr., married, first^ 
Annette Knapp, and married, second, Angeline Knapp. 
He has always resided in town. 

Henry C. Titus, brother of the above, was born 
in 1829. He married Ruth Bailey, and died in 
Lisbon February 12, 1901. 

Ira E. Titus, brother of the above, married Hattie 
E. Barbour, and was an active business man of the 



#^ 




l^^li^^^^cs^^:^:^;:^:^:' 



DAVID LOCKE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Ill 

town at one time, but, at present, resides near Boston. 

Solon R. Titus, brother of the above, married 
Frances Dow. He died in town in 1899, at the age 
of sixty-eiglit years. 

John Smith Titus, son of Samuel, hved for many 
years in the south eastern part of the town near Lis- 
bon village. He reared a family of six sons, namely : 
Asher, Jason, Jeremy, John, Merrill, and Calvin. 

Charles Parker was born on Sugar Hill May 21, 
1826. He married Amelia E. Bennett, and became a 
citizen of Lyman in 1848, where he was a member of 
the firm of Parker & Young. He was a representative 
in the legislature from Lyman in 1862-3. In 1864 
he moved to Lisbon, where he died August 25, 1895. 

Samuel P. Ford was born in East Haverhill, N. 
H., in 1833. He first came to Lyman as a school 
teacher, and afterwards married Jane Kelsea, and be- 
came a citizen of the town in 1856, locating on Clough 
Hill on the old Hall farm. He held various town 
offices, took an active interest in educational matters, 
and was one of the leading men of affairs during the 
civil war period. He moved to Lisbon in 1865. 

Alonzo J. Chase came from Bradford, Yt., to Ly- 
man about 1855. He married Emmeline, daughter of 
Col. John Little, and lived in Tinkerville. He v/as a 
genuine Yankee peddler, a vocation which he followed 
during his business life. He was born May 21, 1828, 
and died in Monroe, November 4, 1894. 



112 BIOGRAPIHCAL SKETCHES. 

William D. Stevexs, son of Wilbur Stevens, was 
born in Smithfield, R. I., in 1817. lie came to Ly- 
man in 1839, and married Lydia Ann, daughter of 
William Barbour. They lived on the old homestead 
with William Martin Jr., receiving the farm for the 
care of Mr. and Mrs. Martin, which contract was faith- 
fully performed. Plis son Wilbur, still resides on the 
old place. 

Benjamin Bedell, son of Amos Bedell of Bath, 
was born in 1824. He married Sarah A. Spaulding 
and lived in town several years. 

William Savan married Ruth Garland, and became 
a citizen of this town about 1850. His home was on 
the farm known as the "North Star." He died in 1900, 
at the age of eighty years. 

Isaac P. Wheelock, son of Aaron, was born in 
Littleton. He married Ethalinda Bailey, and came to 
Lyman in 1860. He died in 1880 at the age of fifty- 
two years. 

John Martin was one of the characters of the 
town, a shoemaker by trade, and lived on Parker Hill 
and in Tinkerville. His conception of things was very 
peculiar, and he derived gi-eat pleasure from his imag- 
ination. He had a catechism peculiar to himself, 
which he was in the habit of teaching to the boys 
when they were waiting for work in his shop. In 
part it was as follows ; Who was the first man? Adam 
Gibson. Who built the Ark? Noah Moulton. Who 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 113 

was the meekest man? Moses Bailey. Who was the 
most patient man? Job Moulton. Who was the 
strongest man? Lazarus Sampson. Who killed Goliah? 
David Eastman. Who was the wisest man? Solomon 
Presby. Who was cast into the lion's den? Daniel 
Moulton. At that time, all of these men were well 
known residents of Lyman. The subject of this 
sketch was a son of Stephen and Sallie Martin, and 
was born in Topsbam, Vermont, in 1817. He came 
to Lyman in 1840, and married Juliann Smith. Mr. 
Martin died April 13, 1880, at the age of sixty- two 
years and nine months. 

William Williams was born in England. He 
came to Bath, where he married Ruth Bedel, and 
moved to Lyman about 1803. He was an educated 
man and a bookkeeper by profession. Among his 
children were, namely : Lorenzo, William, Azariah 
and Jacob. 

Jacob Williams, son of William, married Mary 
Scales, and was a citizen of Lyman nearly all his life. 
His home was in the south part of the town near the 
great rock. He reared a large family of children, and 
died in 1877, at the age of seventy-eight years. 

James Stick net lived in Lyman in early times, 
and died while living on the place afterwards occupied 
by his son Taplin. Among his children were, namely: 
Daniel and Taplin. Daniel married Polly Moulton, 
and died November 23, 1871, at the age of eighty 



114 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

years. Taplin married Sarah Clough, a daughter of 
Zacheus Clough, and died in 1878, at the age of 
seventy- two years. 

Ethan Franklin Stickney, son of Daniel, was 
born in Lyman, February 8, 1825. He married 
Laura, daughter of Lebbeus Hastings, in 1848. 
Among their family of seven children were : Seth 
Paddlefoid, Walter Harriman, and Mrs. Charles E. 
Elms. Mrs. Stickney died September 20, 1882, at the 
age of fifty-two years. Mr. Stickney rap.rried, second, 
Mrs. Ethalinda Wheelock, and died in Woodsville, N. 
H., November 16, 1900. 

David Stickney was in Lyman about 1800, and 
lived on the old town farm. His children were, name- 
ly: John, Parker, James, David, and Dan. His wife 
was Sarah, a daugliter of Solomon Parker. His son, 
John, married Hannah Presby. and died in town. 

Rawson McAlpen was born in Bath. He married 
Mary Webster and came to Lyman about 1840. His 
children were, namely: Eber, Chester, Jack, David, 
and several others. He died in 1871, at tlie age of 
eighty-two years. 



m *v 







ETHAN FRANKLIN STICKNEY. 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 115 



CHAPTER VI. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

OLD CELLARS— COLD SEASON OF 1816— INCIDENT IN THE EARLY HIS- 
TORY OF LYMAN — CIDER MILL — DRINKING HABITS — PHYSICIANS — 
CHURCHES AND MINISTERS— DOMESTIC AND SOOIAL LIFE— MORMONS— 
STORES— MILLS— STARCH BUSINESS— BLACKSMITHS — TANNERY — TOWN 
HOUSE— LIBRARIES— SCHOOLS — POTASH — SUGAR MAKING — RUNNING 
THE CONNECTICUT RIVER — TEAMING — WITCHCRAFT — MILITARY 
MATTERS. 

OLD CELLARS. 

There are to be found here and there throughout 
the township of Lyman, the remains of former hal)ita- 
tions, wliich mark places once the home of some settler 
or early resident of the town. Some of the occupants 
are known, but in most cases all trace is lost of the 
families who dwelt amidst those now^ neglected ruins. 
A few of them are located as follows : one in the 
pasture of the farm formerly owned by William Miner, 
below the residence of Mr. OHn, and in the rear of 
where the old school house stood ; another in the west 
pasture of the Kent farm. There are also two near 
the woods in front of the Kent place ; one of which 
is just above the home of D. C. Parker, another op- 
posite the last on the Hoskins farm. There is also a 
cellar in the southern part of the town near the "rock- 



116 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

ing stone" (which of itself is also a curiosity), while 
still another is opposite the Moulton Hill cemetery ; 
one south of the residence of Willard Chase ; one near 
the home of James House ; and several on Gardner's 
mountain. These are only a few of the many which 
can yet be found. 

COLD SEASON OF 1816. 

The summer of 1816 was memorable on account of 
the intense cold which prevailed thoughout the entire 
summer; — the season for growing crops being "cut 
short at both ends." In some parts of New Hamp- 
shire snow fell to the depth of several inches in June, 
and in September corn froze to the center of the cob, and 
apples were frozen upon the trees. There was a frost 
in every month of the year, which caused the people of 
Lyman to suffer much for food during the following- 
winter, and they were compelled to subsist mainly 
upon peas and beans. The above was personally re- 
lated by Moses Walker who came to town in the 
early spring of that year. 

INCIDENT IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF LYMAN. 

The following experience of some of the earliest 
settlers of Lyman was related by J. D. Hoskins, hav- 
ing been told him by his grandfather, Eli Hoskins. 
In 1765 the Knapps and Hodges came from Taunton, 
Mass., to Lyman, and attempted to settle and build a 
mill on what was then called Burnham's river, after- 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 117 

wards the sight of the old Dodge mill. William 
Hoskins, a brother of Eli who was a mill-wright and 
twenty-six years old at that time, came with them to 
to assist in the work, but they were driven away by 
the Indians and obliged to leave their homes. 

William Hoskins went to New York, where he re- 
mained. The Knapps and Hodges, it seems, went to 
Massachusetts, and after the close of the Revolution, 
returned to Lyman. This attempt at settlement in 
1765 is the earliest of which we have any record, and 
no doubt they were the first people who located in 
town. 

CIDER MILL. 

The first cider-mill in town was built by Deacon 
David Gordon in the corner of his field below the 
house, near the Hoskins farm. This mill was a rude 
affau', unprotected by shelter of any kind. It consist- 
ed simply of a press, and plank trough or tank. In 
this trough were two wooden rollers, standing upright 
in a plank frame. One roller was short, the other 
eight or ten feet high. Short wooden pins were in- 
serted in the long one, so that when it revolved, they 
would catch in corresponding holes in the short one 
and turn that also. At the top of the long roller, a 
long pole was attached, curving toward the ground ; 
to the end of which a horse was hitched. The apples 
were held in a hopper, and directed between the 
rollers; as the horse went round, the rollers turned 



118 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

and the apples were crushed and dropped into the 
tank. A boy would sit on a board, laying across the 
trough, and scrape the pulp out of the holes in the 
roller, as it turned around, lest the holes fill and thus 
prevent the roller from turning. The pomace was 
then "laid up" in a cheese with straw, and the cider 
pressed out. Other mills were subsequently built on 
Parker Hill, Moulton Hill, and one on the Lyman 
Hoskins place. 

DRINKING HABITS. 

In earlier times the habits and usages of tlie people 
were different in many respects from what they are at 
present. The use of liquors, as a beverage, was uni- 
versal, and it was not considered injurious to health, 
nor a disgrace to use it freely. It was sold openly at 
all the stores, and Mrs. Abigail Stevens related, that 
when a girl, there was such carousals and fights in 
Lemuel Parker's store evenings, that she was afi'aid to 
remain in their house which stood near by. It was 
also related by an eye witness, that there were fre- 
quently fights at the lower store, at which time there 
would be a heap of struggling humanity in the road 
in front of the store several feet high, punching 
and pounding one another until exhausted. All 
the leading men in town drank and kept it in their 
houses, and even the clergymen would take a drink. 

It was impossible to have a raising without rum, 
and at every birth the neighbors expected to be called 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 119 

in and treated. Always at funerals, after the cere- 
mony at the grave, the conductor would pompously 
request all friends and relatives to return to the house- 
He would seat them with great solemnity, and then 
mix and pass around liquor himself. Both men and 
women, also the minister, would imbibe freely. 

A number of persons in Lyman were licensed to sell 
spn-ituous and intoxicating liquors. As it is hardly 
possible, that these could have been supported, to any 
considerable extent, by travellers, it is but reasonable 
to conclude that they were licensed largely to supply 
the local demands for ardent spirits, which soon after 
the Revolutionary war came into quite general use, 
and was regarded as one of the necessities of the' 
household, and, in fact, indispensable in carrying on 
the more laborious parts of husbandry or mechanical 
busmess. New England rum was the liquor mostly 
used. The general use of this became very common, 
and is traceable, largely, no doubt, to habits acquired 
by those out in the service, where the rations of 
soldiers consisted in part of New England rum. 

PHYSICIANS. 

The first physicians who practiced medicine in the 
town of Lyman were Dr. Isaac Moore and Dr. Edward 
Dean ; the former having settled in Bath in 1790, the 
latter locating in the same town in 1806. 

The first physician who located in town was Dr. 
Wright, who was a brother of Mrs. Francis Burt. 



120 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

The date of his coming is not known, but he was here 
as late as 1816, and lived in an old house on Parker 
Hill, which stood on the spot occupied by the double 
house near the store. He moved to Bradford, Vt., 
where he died. After the family left Lyman, the 
walls on the inside of the old house, where they lived, 
Avere found to be covered with drawings and pictures 
made by a son, Neziah, who was a lad at that tune. 
This son, afterwards became quite celebrated as an 
engraver, and as a member of the firm of "Rawdon, 
Wright and Hatch," he engi-aved the first ^'Green- 
backs issued by the United States. 

Doctor Jones, and Doctor Barney, each located in 
town and remained only for a short time. A sketch 
of the life of Doctor Samuel Hoskins, who became a 
citizen of Lyman in 1817, is given in another part of 
these sketches. 

CHUECHES AXI) MINISTERS. 

Until about 1820, all religious meetings were held 
in private liouses, and frequently in the summer sea- 
son in barns. About this time the citizens of all 
denominations united and built a churcli where the 
present one now stands. It was always known as 
the "yellow meeting-house" from the out-side color. 
It was built as a union house, but from the fact that 
the Methodist contingent largely predominated, trouble 
soon arose. At one of the business meetings Deacon 
Underwood, a prominent Methodist, made the state- 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 121 

ment that the other denominations could use the 
church only when they did not want it. To this, 
several of the ow^ners demured, and the Congregation- 
alists and Universalists led by Luther Hoskins, Daniel 
Moulton, and Cyrus Clough, united with others and 
built a church where the Ira Titus house now stands 
on Parker Hill, which was union in character and 
known as the White Church. This church with its 
tall spire w as a very handsome building. The interior 
was high and vaulted, with a gallery containing pews, 
running around the whole church except the end oc- 
cupied by the pulpit, and on the whole, presenting a 
very elegant appearance. Originally as the church 
was built, there was no spire, but when Mr. Whitney 
came to town to do business, he induced the people to 
erect a spire, as his store was situated opposite. He 
secured the contract to construct and erect it. In 
those days, at all raisings, it was customary to pass 
around the cup that does more than cheer. Quite a 
large crowd collected to raise the spire, and they all 
soon became very joyful. At last one, Alvah Cob- 
leigh, a young man who had recently been a sailor, 
conceived the idea of climbing to the top of the spire 
after it was in position. He did so, and after seating 
himself on the ball at the top, he drew forth his bottle 
and drank, then flinging it to the gi-ound, he slid down 
in safety, amidst great applause. This caused a feel- 
ing of emulation among some of the older men who 



122 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

had not been sailors. One of the orators of the town 
at once announced his intention of climbing up and 
delivering a speech. He reached the top of the tower 
in safety, when he was taken with a sudden dizziness 
and was unable to hold his position. His friends, see- 
ing his danger, went to his relief. The orator had 
become perfectly helpless, so a rope was tied around 
him, and he was lowered to the ground in safety, 
where he soon regained his normal condition. 

In those days stoves were unknown, and there 
was no means of warming the churches, — even in the 
coldest days in winter. This church was sold by the 
owners to David Smith in the early sixties, who took 
it down and with the materials erected the building 
nov/ used as a parsonage, also the dwelling known as 
tlie Ira Titus house. In 1862 the yellow church was 
out of repair. The members of all denominations 
again united, and put it in good condition, forming a 
union church. The dedication occurred in mid- winter, 
and was considered a great event. The choir, under 
the leadership of Adam G. Eastman, a well known 
singer, vras rehearsing for a long time. An all day 
service was held and the sermons were delivered by 
Elder Shipman, Advent, and the Rev. Frank Ilealey, 
ITniversalist. The church was filled to overflowing, 
people coming in from many towns around. The 
occasion was long talked about and commented upon 
by people who were there. 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 123 

Very little can be learned now relative to the 
clergymen of the early period. A church was formed 
here in 1814 by Rev. David Sutherland of Bath, who 
often preached to the people. In 1816 a revival of 
great interest occurred, and Rev. Samuel Goddard 
labored here. In December, twenty-two persons were 
received into the church ; and in March following, 
fourteen more were admitted. In 1832 the church 
numbered fifty-three members, at which time the pop- 
ulation of the town was seven hundred and forty-two. 
In 1856 there was a Methodist society, consisting of 
seventy-three members. 

Rev. Mr. Campbell preached here about 1840. In 
those days it was considered necessary that a minister 
should have a strong voice, and an ability to pound 
the desk well. Mr. Campbell seemed to possess those 
qualities in a remarkable degree. He was quite an 
exliorter and succeeded in getting up a great revival. 
Believing in immersion, he baptized a large number 
in Smith pond, late in the fall when the pond was 
filled with ice. The next year he requested all the 
members of the church, who had only been sprinkled, 
to come forward and be immersed. Uncle Elijah 
Knapp and his son, Hiram, were members of the church 
in good standing, but had only been sprinkled. To 
the request that they be immersed, they demurred. 
Elder Campbell labored long and earnestly with 
Uncle Elijah to convince him that he was in the 



124 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

wrong. Uncle Elijah was a man of high character, 
had been a member of the church for a long time, and 
felt that he stood on solid ground. He was moulded 
in a rough environment, and at times was somewhat 
given to explosives. At last Elder Campbell went 
down into the field where he was at work one day 
and made a supreme effort to convince him. Uncle 
Elijah bore it in silence for a while, but at last rose 
up, and with flashing eyes said, " I swear I wont be 

baptized agin, an' Hiram swears by he wont." 

There was no more argument after that, on the part 
of Mr. Campbell. 

The Rev. Frank Healy, a Universalist, preached 
here during the early sixties. He was a highly culti- 
vated man and a speaker of great power. 

Rev. Mr. Watkins was stationed in Lyman several 
years. His family was large at that time, and his 
salary small, so he was given the position of superin- 
tendent of schools. At the annual town meeting, 
after reading his report, he offered the following re- 
marks : " There has been some trouble in District No. 
7 during the winter term. I have investigated the 
matter somewhat, and in my opinion it is some sort of 
a subterranean difficulty." The difficulty was never 
fathomed, and Mr. Watkins soon took up his residence 
in another town. 

Rev. Isaiah Shipman, who preached to the people 
of Lyman for several years, was born in Westminis- 




Mils. MINDWELL JJAKTLETT, 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 125 

ter, Vt., October 15, 1810. November 17, 1835, he 
married Charlotte R. Cook, of North Sjmngfield, Vt., 
and became a citizen of Sugar Hill in 1845, where he 
was pastor of the Advent church for twenty-two 
years. During his pastorate there, he was frequently 
called to Lyman, where he was much respected, both 
as a man and a minister. He died in Lisbon village 
in 1882. 

DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL LIFE. 

The years since 1760 have wrought great changes 
in the domestic and social life of the people. The 
first houses were made of logs, with chimneys of stone. 
The fire-place was very large and deep. The large 
stick, placed at the back of the fire-place, was called 
the "back-log," which would last for several days. On 
this was placed the "top-stick," and in front the "fore- 
stick," and between these were the coals. At one end 
of the fire-place was the old stone oven, under vrhich 
was a deep place called the ash-hole, where the ashes 
were thrown. The chimney-place served another 
purpose as well as for warmth and amusement. Here 
the meals were prepared. Over head was the "lug- 
pole," as it was called, made of a green stick of wood 
and placed far enough above the fire so as not to be- 
come ignited by the heat and flames. From this pole 
hung the "trammels." These were long straight pieces 
of u'on punched with holes into which the "pot-hooks" 
were set, so that the pot or kettle could be lowered or 



126 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

raised at pleasure. The "crane" was a later contriv- 
ance and served the same purpose. The frying-pan 
was set directly on the coals, and there was also the 
"Dutch oven," which was made of iron, shaped some- 
thing like a deep covered dish, and had short legs. It 
was set on the fire and live coals placed on the top so 
as to aid in heating. 

Friction matches came into use about 1833, and 
their introduction caused a decided change in domestic 
arrangements. Before that time it was a serious re- 
sponsibility for the housewife and family to see that 
the fire did not go out ; and on going to bed the coals 
in the fire-place were carefully buried in ashes to in- 
sure the preservation of fire enough to kindle with in 
the morning. If, notwithstanding this precaution, the 
fire did go out, the tinder-box was resorted to, or per- 
haps the male head of the household would get a gun 
and strike fire with that. In default of these expedi- 
ents, one of the children was sent to the nearest 
neighbor's house to borrow fire, bringing home a burn- 
ing brand, or some live coals between two chips. Mrs. 
L. B. Iloskins said she had been sent many times 
when a child to the neighbor's to borrow fire. 

The houses were fitted up with furniture made of 
wood from the forests. Dishes were made of wood 
and pewter. Brooms were made of hemlock and ash. 
The food was good. Meat was plenty and eaten in 
large quantities. Very few potatoes were used. 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 127 

Luther Ploskins was heard to say, he could remember, 
when, if a farmer raised two or three barrels of pota- 
toes, he wondered what he could do with them. The 
most common food was bread made of rye and Indian 
meal, which was usually eaten in milk. Tea and coffee 
were rare. Tea was frequently made of sage, and 
much liked by the older people. Coffee was made 
from burnt bread crusts, also from corn, beans, and 
roasted wheat. 

The two oldest houses in town are those lately oc- 
cupied by George Eastman and E. Flint Hoskins. 
The houses on the Kent, Thornton, and Knapp places, 
also the one formerly on the town farm, were all built 
about the same time. They were built by Jacob Hurd 
of Bath, nearly one hundred years ago. He also built 
a two-story house on the Hoskins place, which was 
burned in 1841. The houses occupied by J. F. Olin 
and Orlo Parker on Parker Hill were built about 1830 
by Deacon Underwood. 

Paring-bees and huskings were social occasions. 
Muster- day was a great event in early times, and 
people far and near met on that occasion. The great 
sport for young men at all gatherings of this kind was 
wrestling, wliich at that time was quite a science. 
They would frequently wrestle all day at musters and 
town meetings. 

Church-going was rather social in its character. 
Two sermons were delivered each Sunday, one in the 



128 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

forenoon, and the other in the afternoon. People 
would carry then* dinner or lunch, and while eating at 
noon, they were very social. They would talk over 
the news, and the men would get out of doors, on the 
sunny side of the church, and sometimes make a trade 
on the sly. This was known as "horse-shedding." In 
winter time a great deal of visiting was done, but it 
was considered neither polite, nor good manners, to 
visit during haying time, but in winter people would 
hitch up and with sleigh-bells gingling, cMve to the 
home of some friend in the evening. The time would 
be spent pleasantly till about ten o'clock, when the 
good house- wife would go and prei)are a supper. 
Meats would be cooked, biscuits made, and the whole 
meal served hot. 

Quilting-bees were verj' frequent. The ladies would 
meet at the home of some neighbor by invitation, in 
the afternoon and make quilts till night, when supper 
was served. Later the 3'Oung men would join the 
party, and the time would be spent in dancing and 
playing games till a late hour. The great social events 
for the young people were the balls, held in the winter 
time. Very elaborate preparations were usually made 
for these affairs. They would usually send to Concord 
and have invitations printed, and the companies were 
intended to be very select. The dance would com- 
mence at two o'clock in the afternoon. They would 
dance through the afternoon and continue till day- 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 129 

light the next morning. Two suppers were served, 
one at night, and the other later in the evening. In 
early times they were hsld in private houses, but later 
in John Burt's hall. The hall or room would be 
lighted with tallow candles in tin candle sticks, placed 
at each side of the windows. 

The ways and customs of old have changed. In those 
days all the cloth was spun and woven at home. The 
candles were "dipped," which was quite a science. 
All the travel* was by foot or on horse back. Wood- 
en plates gave way about 1815, as also did sanded 
floors and hemlock brooms. Four-wheeled carriages 
came about 1820. Clocks came into use about 1810. 
Several of the old tall clocks were owned in Lyman. 
Elijah Knapp, Luther Hoskins, Joshua Thornton, and 
Deacon David Gordon, each, owned one. The brass 
ones were manufactured at one time in Bath, and were 
sold for about sixty dollars. In 1830 there were only 
two stoves in the town of Lyman, and those were 
owned by Deacon Underwood and Mr. Kent. The 
old ways and customs have passed, and we are still 
looking forward to new ones. 

MORMONS. 

About 1830 three Mormon missionaries came to 
Littleton and Lyman and gained several followers. 



* A stage line was once established from Bath to Waterford, pass- 
ing through Lyman, but it only continued for a short time before it 
was abandoned. 



130 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

The meetings were held for several years in both 
towns, in school houses and at various private houses. 
Most of them, however, were held at the house of 
Phineas Parker in West Littleton. In Lyman some 
of them were held at the house of Parker Stickney, 
on the hill above Young's pond ; hence came the 
name of Mormon Hill for that locality. 

At last, James Parker, Phineas Parker and wife, all 
of Littleton ; and Zadoc Parker and wife of Lyman, 
emigrated to Salt Lake City. They all remained there 
through life. Zadoc Parker became a Mormon Elder, 
and was one of the leading members of the society. 
He lived to be a very old man. His wife was his 
cousin, Marriam, a sister of Leonard Parker. Tliese 
peo})le were frequently heard from by their friends 
and relatives in the East, and none of them ever prac- 
ticed polygamy. 

STORES. 

The first person in town who sold goods was a man 
named Wheeler. He lived on the Perley Smith place, 
now occupied by the family of Julius Smith, and ke23t 
a small store in his house. The first building, erected 
in town for exclusive use as a store, was built by 
Lemuel Parker on the premises now occupied by Os- 
man P. Titus, and the original building was standing 
until very recently. This must have been built very 
near 1800. Mr. Parker did business in this store until 
his failure, when the business was taken by William 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 131 

Eastman who conducted it for a few years only. 
These were the only men who did business in this 
store. About the year 1825 Moses Whitney built a 
new store on the site where the present store in town 
now stands. He only conducted the business a short 
time and failed. It was next managed by Hemphill 
& Clement for a few years, when Clement withdrew 
and the business was conducted by Hemphill alone. 
The business was carried on next by Hu-am Cutting. 
This man did a very large trade for several years 
and subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits at 
Lower Waterford, Vt., in company with Barron Moul- 
ton. 

The next merchant on Parker Hill was Ben Paddle- 
ford, who was succeeded by Col. Azariah Moore. In 
1848 Charles Parker and Riley Young bought the 
store property, both real and personal, paying $1000, 
and commenced trade under the name of Parker & 
Young. They built the south section of the double 
house which was occupied by Mr. Young, Mr. 
Parker's family living in the section next the store. 
They also built the ell extending from the double 
house toward the store and finished a hall in the up- 
per part which was used by the community for dances 
and social gatherings of all kinds. Mr. Young moved 
to Lisbon Village in a few years and opened a branch 
store. Mr. Parker conducted the Lyman part of the 
enterprise. 



132 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

This firm did a very large business up to, and dur- 
ing the period of the Civil war, dealing in real estate, 
lumber, starch and all kinds of produce. 

In 1864 they sold out the entire plant to Miner 
& Titus for 12000. Mr. Parker joined Mr. Young at 
Lisbon. 

Miner & Titus conducted the business until 1871, 
when they tore down the old store and erected the 
large and commodious building now standing. They 
only did business for one year in the new store, when 
they sold out to M. M. Stevens and Seth F. Hoskins. 
Stevens & Hoskins conducted the business for three 
years. It has since been oj^erated b}^ various parties. 

When the store was bought out by Parker & 
Young, Col. Moore moved down to Tinkerville and 
built a small store just above the school house. lie 
did a small business there for a few j^ears, when a 
company was formed by Eber Eastman, Dr. Samuel 
Hoskins, Lebbeus Hastings, Col. Azariah Moore, Isaac 
Barber, William Little, and Francis Burt Jr., who 
bought the enterprise, and conducted it under the 
name of "The Union Store," employing John Barber as 
agent and general manager. This company did 
business for several years when it failed and closed up 
its affairs. The store was managed a short time sub- 
sequently by Cyrus Wheelock. Several years after 
this, the building was taken down and rebuilt on 
Parker Hill, and occupied by Moses B. Wheelock. 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 133 

MILLS. 

The first grist-mill in town was built at the outlet 
of the Dodge pond. This mill must have been built 
very near the first of the century, and was owned by 
David Dodge Sen., who afterwards built a saw-mill 
and shingle-mill near by. A small grist-mill was built 
on the Pettyborough brook in the south part of the 
town several years after, also one in Tinkerville, and 
these three were the only grist-mills ever in town. 

About 1840 the Smith family built a bit factory in 
Tinkerville, where they did quite a prosperous busi- 
ness for several years. The plant was eventually 
burned and was never rebuilt. 

Lyman Hoskins Sr. built a saw-mill on the Smith 
brook below Tinkerville, and Solomon W. Presby 
built one on the same brook a short distance below, but 
most of the sawing was done out of town, as the 
streams were too small to furnish power. 

STARCH BUSINESS. 

The manufacture of potato starch at one time was 
quite extensive in the town of Lyman. The first 
starch-mill in town was built by Carlton Hutchins and 
Harrison Porter, on the Pettyborough brook. This 
mill was afterwards purchased by Parker & Young 
and moved farther up the brook, near the Jehial 
Knapp place. About 1860 Miner & Titus, Osman P. 
Titus and Moses D. Young, built a large starch-mill 



134 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

at the Dodge pond. This mill did a prosperous busi- 
ness for several years, but the price of starch gradually 
declined, till it reached a point so low that its manu- 
facture was discontinued. 

BLACKSMITHS. 

Joseph Porter did blacksmithing on the place lately 
owned by E. F. Hoskins, and probably was the first 
blacksmith in town. His son, Osman, afterwards 
built a shop on Parker Hill, where he carried on the 
business for many years. There was also more or less 
of this work done during these years in Tinkerville by 
the Smith family. Julius Smith had a shop there for 
nearly forty years, doing all kinds of work in iron and 
wood, and was a very useful man in the community. 
Hazen Libbey, John Bailey, and Seth W. Presby 
all carried on the business on Parker Hill at a later 
date. 

SHOEMAKERS. 

Moses Eastman was one of the first shoemakers in 
town. He was followed by Thomas Moore, Samuel 
Gibson, Dr. James Moulton, Austin Stevens, Gus 
Burbank, John Martin, and David Smith. The first 
shoemakers traveled from house to house, but most of 
the work was done in a shop on Parker Hill. 

TANNERY. 

William Miner Jr., in early times, built a tannery on 
Parker Hill, on the place since occupied by Osman 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 135 

Porter. The business was earned on for several 
years by Mr. Miner, and afterwards the plant was pur- 
chased by George Pearson who conducted the business 
for a short time, till at length it was closed and never 
reopened. 

TOWN HOUSE. 

Previous to 1860 the town meetings were held in 
private houses and in the churches, hence in 1860 the 
citizens decided to build a town house. Then arose a 
very bitter discussion as to where it should be located. 
The people in the south part of the town were anxious 
to locate it on Parker Hill, while those in the north part 
desired to have it built somewhere in their section. 
At a special town meeting Feb. 15, 1860, the town 
voted to raise seven hundred dollars to build a town 
house ; also voted to build it near the center of the 
town, and appointed a building committee, consisting 
of Sabin Ash, Francis Burt and Moses Bailey. On 
July 4, the same year, a special town meeting was 
held in the old yellow church to decide upon a loca- 
tion. The writer, then a small boy, was present and 
remembers the occasion very well. There was a large 
attendance, and much acrimonious debate, when it came 
to a vote, however, it was decided l)y a large majority 
to locate it where it now stands. The site at that 
time was a small pointed knoll, and the work was let 
to William Little to level and put it in its present 
condition. Francis Burt was the most active man on 



136 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

the committee, and Luther Russell was hired to build 
the house. The appropriation, voted by the town, was 
exceeded somewhat, but the deficiency was promptly 
raised at a subsequent meeting. 

LIBRARIES. 

The first library in town was established in 1805, 
when a charter was secured for the incorporation of a 
public library. It was called the "Lyman Social 
Library," and contained about fifty volumes, well 
bound in leather, and mostly of a historical and religi- 
ous character. It was kept in the ho>ise of Dr. Samuel 
Hoskins for several years, and afterwards moved to 
Mr. Kent's. The library always remained here al- 
though the house changed owners several times, but 
during the sixties the books all disappeared, and it is 
presumed they were sold durnig the period of the civil 
war for old paper. In 1870 a society was formed 
known as the "Ladies Benevolent Association," which 
soon organized a public library. This movement was 
largely due to the efforts of the Rev. Amos B. Russell. 

Any person could become a member of the library 
association and continue so, by the payment of one 
dollar as the initiation fee, and a yearly tax of fifty 
cents. The original ofticers were Mrs. I. D. Miner, 
president; Mrs. George Cowen, vice-president; Mrs. 
Calvin Titus, secretary ; Mrs. S. L. Locke, treasurer ; 
and Rev. Amos B. Russell was the first librarian. 
This library has gi*own from its foundation, — new 




LUTHER HOSKINS. 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 137 

volumes being added each year, until it contains several 
hundred well selected books. It has recently been 
changed to a town library, which gives it a much 
larger field of usefulness. 

SCHOOLS. 

In the early history of the town, it appears that the 
schools were held in private houses, and very little 
money was appropriated for the purpose. In 1807 a 
committee, consisting of Joshua Thornton, Caleb 
Emery, Daniel Moulton, and James Richardson, were 
appointed to divide the town into seven school dis- 
tricts which were numbered. From this period more 
money was appropriated and the schools received bet- 
ter attention. The number of students increased until 
there were sixty or seventy scholars in some of the 
districts, many of whom were full grov>^n men and 
women. Some of the old time teachers were : Am- 
brose Gushing, Horace Emery, Joshua Stevens, 
Douglas Dexter, and James Calhoun. The schools 
were turbulent, and the methods of the teachers were 
necessarily severe, while some of the punishments 
were barbarous. The teachers were armed with heavy 
hardwood rulers with which they never hesitated to 
knock a scholar down if necessary. Other punish- 
ments were forcing the pupil to bend over and hold 
his finger on the floor for an indefinite time, forcing a 
gag into the mouth and allowing it to remain, and 
fastening a lock of the hair down so close to the fire 



138 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

that they would suffer from the extreme heat. Insub- 
ordination was always in the air, and it was considered 
a crowning mark of glory by the scholars, if they 
could "lick the master," or throw him out of the 
school house. Some seasons these outbreaks, and 
little rebellions, would seem to become epidemic; and 
strange as it may now seem, these disgraceful pranks 
were often winked at by the parents. During one of the 
winter terms in District No. 4, taught by Samuel Hos- 
kins, there occurred a mutiny of unusual proportions. 
The assault on the teacher was led by George Smith, 
Jack Cass, and Jerome Burt. They had gotten him. 
nearly to the door, when he drew his knife and stabbed 
one of them. The sight of blood cooled their enthus- 
iasm and they at once left him master of the field. 
During the early sixties, under the existing law at that 
time, the county school commissioner, annually visited 
all the schools in the county, and delivered one lecture 
in each town. This office was held for several years 
by ex-senator J. W. Patterson, a man of mucli culture 
and literary ability, and whose lectures were both in- 
teresting and instructive. 

POTASH. 

Various means were resorted to, in order to obtain 
supplies for their families, by the early settlers. One 
of these was the making of potash or salts from the 
ashes of wood. This was often done in the primeval 
forests. The new lands that were first cleared were 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 139 

covered with a heavy growth, mostly of hard wood, 
and when clearing their lands of this timber, the ashes, 
made from the wood, were collected and put into 
leaches, generally made of hollow logs, cut from 
the trunks of hollow trees, and after being thoroughly 
leached, the lye was boiled in kettles, to a consistence 
called "salts of lye." These were sold mostly to the 
Hutchinses, merchants in Bath, who gave about three 
or four cents a pound, and afterwards transported it 
to Boston or some other market. Many men found 
employment in this business, during a large portion of 
the winter season. 

SUGAR MAKING. 

Sugar making was one of the social events of the 
year, although the methods were primitive as compar- 
ed with those of today. The trees were tapped by 
cutting in a slanting notch with an ax. At the lower 
end of this notch a curved iron, called a "tapping iron," 
was driven in, and into this hole pine spouts, split out 
with this same iron, were inserted. The sap was 
caught in wooden troughs. These were made by 
cutting off logs about three feet in length, which 
afterwards were split in halves, and a cavity made in 
each half with an ax. At the close of the season the 
troughs were set on end against the trees, and left for 
the next season. The sap was gathered in two pails 
hung on a sap-yoke, and boiled in large iron kettles 
hung on a green pole over the fire. Another kettle 



140 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

was hung on the same pole to sugar off in. After 
sugaring off, there would be several quarts of sedi- 
ment in the bottom of the kettle, consisting of ashes, 
twigs, and leaves; but the sugar seemed just as sweet. 
The first sap-pan for boiling sap was brought to Ly- 
man in 1850, by Luther B. Hoskins; previous to this, 
all the maple sugar made in town was boiled in iron 
kettles. 

RUNNING THE CONNECTICUT RIVER. 

In early times the timber and lumber of the upper 
Connecticut was taken down the river in rafts. They 
started from "the Landing" in Haverhill and run down 
to Hartford, Conn. The saw-mills in Lyman and the 
towns north of Haverhill would saw out their lumber 
in the spring, and during the summer it was hauled 
down to the landing with horse and ox teams. It was 
bound into a great raft, with the shingles, clapboards, 
and lighter articles, piled on top. These rafts were 
worked down through by the river men. They were 
a rough hard lot of fellows used to exposure and 
danger. Usually, they would remain during the sum- 
mer, in the vicinity of Hartford, working upon the 
farms, and returning in the fall, walking the entire 
distance. Several men from Lyman were engaged in 
this work, among the number being George Foster, 
John Sanborn, Samuel Moulton, and Noah Moulton, 
and at various times other men from Lyman worked 
on the river. 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 141 

TEAMING. 

In early times the roads were poor and difficult to 
draw loads over, but as the years rolled on they were 
improved, so that teams went back and forth from 
this section to Portland, Lowell, Boston, and wherever 
they could find a market for the products of the soil 
and the forests, bringing back on the return trip such 
articles as were needed, also goods for the merchants. 
The farmers of Lyman did their teaming mostly in the 
winter season, going to Portland and Boston. There 
were numerous pungs, one and two horse sleighs on 
the road, so that frequently these trains were a half 
mile or more in length. Frozen hogs, butter, cheese, 
poultry, furs, sheep-pelts, and all articles of coun- 
try produce, were carried in this way to market. Tav- 
erns were numerous along the way, and on the road 
to Portland, through the "White Mountain Notch," 
were the famous taverns of Rosebrooks and Crawford. 
These taverns would be filled in the night with trav- 
elers and teams. Many of the teamsters carried with 
them their own food of cold meat, pies, cake and 
cheese, and only took lodgings and drink at the 
tavern. Many also carried their oats for the horses. 
They made the country lively along the route, and the 
trips with now and then an accident, or a few days of 
thaw, were full of jollity and incident. 



142 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

WITCHCRAFT. 

The echoes of the Salem witchcraft reached Lyman 
about one hundred years ago, at which time there were 
several believers in the occult science in town. WiUiam 
Martin was a firm believer in witches, also the family 
of Solomon Parker Jr., who Uved at that time on the 
farm since occupied by George Foster. They claimed 
to hear strange noises up in the rear of their house 
towards the old ledge, which they attributed to 
witches, and they also thought the witches came and 
rode their horses nights, and committed various other 
depredations. A daughter of David Stickney was 
supposed to be bewitched, and it was rumored that 
she would walk around the sides of the room without 
touching the floor with her feet, and perform other 
singular antics, understood only by witches. William 
Eastman was a believer, and thought Mrs. Adam Gib- 
son was a witch who caused him a great deal of 
troul)le. He was drawing hay one day when the 
linchpin to his wagon would keep coming out until 
he was unable to keep it in place. Going to the house 
he saw his pig dancing around on his hind legs and 
squealing in a peculiar manner. He knew at once 
that the witches were bothering him, and remarked 
that he would scald that pig, but when he went to the 
pump to get some water to heat, for some reason un- 
known, he was unable to draw any. Then he de- 
cided that old Mrs. Gibson was the cause of his 




DEACON DAVID GORDON. 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 143 

trouble, and immediately went to her house. He was 
informed that she was sick in bed, but he walked into 

her room and said, " D n you, I expected to find 

you in bed," and talked to her in a manner unbecom- 
ing a man even to a witch. He afterwards tried the 
"witch test" on lier, of sticking a knife in her track, as 
it was then thought that by sticking a knife in the 
track of a witch, they would be unable to move, but 
Mrs. Gibson merely turned and looked at him and 
walked on. 

MILITARY MATTERS. 

Under the militia law of New Hampshire, passed 
June 26, 1786, all the able bodied male persons, from 
fifteen years old to forty constituted the training band, 
among those exempted were members of congress, 
students of colleges and academies, ministers, elders 
and deacons of churches, Quakers, selectmen, phy- 
sicians and millers. Each town that could furnish 
thu'ty-two privates, and the proper number of oflicers 
was entitled to form one company. All male persons 
from forty to sixty years of age, capable of bearing 
arras, constituted the alarm list. The commanding 
ofticer of each alarm company called his company to- 
gether once in six months and examined their arms 
and accouterments, and if any were not in the re- 
quired condition, the owner was punished. Every 
officer and soldier in the alarm list and training band 
was obliged to provide himself, and keep in readiness, 



144 MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 

a good musket, and a bayonet fitted thereto, with a 
good scabbard and belt, a worm, priming- wh-e and 
brush, a cartridge-box that would hold at least twenty- 
four rounds, six flints, and a pound of powder, forty 
leaden balls fitted to his gun, a knap-sack, a blanket, 
and a canteen that would hold one quart. Those 
persons who were unable to provide themselves with 
the required equipment were furnished at the ex- 
pense of the town, and if any person, so furnished, 
was known to wilfully embezzle or destroy the same, 
he was punished by being publicly whipped, not ex- 
ceeding twenty stripes. 

The training band was called together four times each 
year. Lyman had one company in the training band. 
Among the men who held the rank of Captain during 
the last of the training, were ; Capt. Solomon Miner, 
Capt. Adna Thornton, Capt. John Moulton, Capt. 
Moses Bailey and Capt. Calvin Titus. 

SOLDIERS WHO SERVED IN THE REVOLUTION. 

The following are the names of soldiers who served 
in the Revolution, and subsequently lived for a time, 
at least, in Lyman. Some of them enlisted from other 
towns, and no doubt some, who enlisted from Lyman, 
died in other places, but these men are nearly all 
bm'ied in town. 

Robart Barkley Eli Hoskins 

Hamelton Marden Capt. John Barber 

John Millen Noah Moulton 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 



145 



Joshua Thornton 
Solomon Parker Jr. 
Asa Parker 
Samuel Parker 
Annis Merrill 
Col. Azariah Web 
Oliver Hand 



Jonathan Moulton 
William Clough 
William Martin 
Solomon Parker Sen. 
Capt. Ebenezer Sanborn 
William Miner 
Abial Knapp 

SOLDIERS FROM LYMAN WHO SERVED IN THE 
WAR OF 1812. 

Col. John Little Joseph Little 

William Martin Jr. Daniel Stickney 

John Dodge Theodore Dyke 
Labina Hastings 

The only person who served in the Mexican war, 
from Lyman, was Joe Little. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION. 

The following are the names of soldiers who served 
in the war of the Rebellion, and were natives of Ly- 
man. Most of them enlisted from the town. 



Henry Martin, died in hospital 

Harvey Martin, killed in action 

John Powers, died in Concord 

Caleb Parker 

Jesse W. Richardson 

Isaac Dodge 

Amos Parker, died in hospital 

Joseph Foster, died in hospital 



Edwin Powers 
Charles Garland 
Shepard C. Parker 
Charles Parker 
Elijah Smith 
Richard Dodge 
Philander Huntley 
Larkin Clough 



146 



MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES. 



Charles Hall, killed in action 

Frank Santy, died in prison 

Herod Gilraan, killed in action 

George Gilman, killed in action 

Ira Powers, died in Lyman 

Dan Dow, killed in action 

Charles Cram, died in hospital 

Capt. Ludo Little, died in N. Y. 

Ezra B. Co wen, served in Vt. troops 

Solon Stickney 

John Millen, died in Bath 

Martin Parker 

Ansel Moulton 

Frank Eastman 

Lewellyn Parker 

Albert Millen 

Nathan Whitcomb 

Hiram Ingerson 

John Lane 

In 1862 twenty-two men were 
call from Lyman. Eleven were 
paid $300, which under the law 
them exemption. 



Grey Santy 
Joseph Santy 
Eli Santy 
Harvey Dow 
James Garland 
William F. Cowen 
Orrin B. Cowen 
Milo G. Little 
Benera Sherman 
George Bailey 
Benjamin Bailey 
Moses W. Moulton 
Frank Moulton 
Ransome Gordon 
Loveren Gilman 
John Bergen 
Frank Dexter 
Isaac Smith 

drafted under one 
accepted, and each 
at that time, gave 



INDEX. 



147 



INDEX, 



HISTORICAL. 

Charter, . . . . . 

Grant to John Hurd, 
Extension of Charter, 
Town Invoice 1777, 
Petition for Abatement of Taxes, 
Relative to Soldiers Furnished for the War, 
First Town Meeting January 5, 1786, 
Library Charter, .... 



Ash Family, 
Bass Family, 
Bartlett Family, 
Bedell Family, 
Barber Family, 
Burt Family, 
Bailey Family, 
Barkley Family, 
Clough Family, 
Cowen Family, 
Calhoun Family, 
Corey Family, 
Cass Family, 
Chase Family, 
Dow Family, 
Drake Family, 
Dyke Family, 
Dodge Family, 
Eastman Family, 
Esterbrook Family, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



PAGES 
18 



30 



44,45 



103 

104 

112 

65,66 

66,67 



60 to 62 

62 to 64 

64 

86 

91 

111 

106 

79 

106 

67,68 

74 to 76, 90 

102 



148 



INDEX. 



Foster Family, 
Ford Family, 
Gordon Family, 
Gould Family, 
Gibson Family, 
Garland Family 
Gilman Family, 
Hoskins Family, 
Hurd Family, 
Hastings Family, 
Hodge Family, 
Kent Family, 
Knapp Family, 
Little Family, 
Lynde Family, 
Locke Family, 
Moore Family, 
Mason Family, 
Matin Family, 
McAlpin Family, 
Moulton Family, 
Miner Family, 
McMillen Family 
Merrill Family 
Parker Family, 
Porter Family, 
Patridge Family, 
Presby Family, 
Stevens Family, 
Sanborn Family, 
Sherman Family, 
Smith Family, 
Swan Family, 
Stickney Family, 
Thornton Family, 
Titus Family. 
Underwood, Family 
Walker Family, 
Wheelock Family, 
Way Family, 



PAGES 

105, 106 

111 

70,89 

91 

92,93 

102 

105 

94 to 98 

99 

104 



70 to 73 

80 to 82 

103 

107 to 109 

88 

93 

^A, 65, 112 

114 

55 to 59 

73,74 

76 to 77 

77 

51 to 54, 111 

78 

99 

103 

68, 69, 112 

78 

89 

100, 101 

112 

113, 114 

87,88 

109 to 111 

82 

85 

112 

83 



INDEX. 



149 



Williams Family, 
Wright Family, 
Young Family, 



Cold Season of 1816, 

First Attempt at Settlement, 

Physicians, 

Churches, 

Mormons, 

Stores, 

Mills, 

Witchcraft, 

Military Matters, 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



PAGKS 
113 

79 



lie 

110 
119 
120 
129 
130 
133 
142 
143 






^ 

^ 
^ 







0> o - o . "^ . 



V , ♦ ' 
















^oK 




>^ 



C vP 





^■; \\T\< 











c" * 









^' 



0^ ."•''^ "> 










^. 



'0- r<^ 





•b^ 




A^^ 




A 




Sv/?. 




(X^ 



_4^ 



